Social challenges as COVID-19 restrictions ease

On my way to work this morning the radio announcer asked a general question for talkback: what behaviours have you changed in the past few months due to COVID-19?

I thought it rather an obvious set of answers, probably not worth much discussion.  But then as I reflected, I found myself a little troubled.  Up until recently I have found myself very particular about keeping my social distance.  I am an ex-safety adviser and manager, so it is in my DNA I suppose to adhere strictly to safety rules.

But in the past week, with restrictions easing in my area of the world, not having had any cases of COVID-19 reported in over a week, I have found myself easing back into some of my old habits, or at least I found myself less antsy about social distancing.

Working in a school, even though social distancing is signposted, and cleaning regimes have been upped, with much policy is in place, and where the leaders have worked so hard like leaders have everywhere, it feels impossible to eliminate all the risks.  And I suspect that is the case with schools everywhere across our state and possibly most of the nation — indeed, this is my observation.  With students back from their forays into distance learning — (which was nowhere near as easy as it sounded!) — I am in relatively close proximity to other staff and the students.  It seems impossible to avoid this.  I watch other workers elsewhere within society, especially maintenance teams, who must be in close proximity with co-workers in order to do their work, so there are many complexities with physical distancing that make it in some ways unworkable.  Not that we shouldn’t be trying.  We must try.

Just being able to congregate in slightly larger numbers has had an interesting impact, especially in regard to the recent Mother’s Day.  My mother and my mother-in-law and my three adult daughters hadn’t received hugs from me for nearly two months.  There have only been two very brief visits with each of them in that time, and certainly physical distancing has been maintained.  But I found myself reaching out on Mother’s Day (and I find myself resisting saying that I gave them a hug — because it feels like treason), and even though we are told to imagine we are carrying the disease, it is still so hard to act ‘distant’ when we feel like we are on top of it.  I just want to be real with you, even as I watch for the police to come knocking at my door!

There is even a fear within me as I write these words that I’m breaking the moral code, as well as aligning myself with the term “Covidiot”.  But I find what I’m doing is represented elsewhere in society more and more.

One thing I observe as I make these confessions is the transience of awkward human social practices.  As human beings we don’t adapt well to these kinds of social prohibitions, and yet if we do have a second wave of COVID-19 cases, I wonder what impact this will have if we have to tighten up again.  We are told there will be a second wave, and to be ready, but I find within myself a reluctance to believe that, and this is potentially dangerous.  I wonder if others feel the same way.

I think there is a strong presumption in government that everyone will continue to do ‘the right thing’.  Of course, it will be different in other areas of the world, where the virus very sadly is still going strong.  You may even look at my slide in attitude with disdain.  I just want to be honest and suggest to you, that in being one of the more fierce advocates for maintaining social distancing rules, I find myself drifting back to my old ways, and perhaps writing this article is a reminder to myself to return my attitude to do what is necessary.

I just wanted to flag that there are social challenges as COVID-19 restrictions ease.

We are social creatures us human beings, and it is difficult to maintain the distancing regimes, especially in times with family and friends, and certainly where our work requires us to work in close proximity to others.

Photo by Pop & Zebra on Unsplash