![]() And give that peach-toucher a gentle reminder, if you feel inclined. So the next time you're at the market? Set the example you want to see. So wear a mask and follow other protocols in public to help establish those actions as social norms, pushing other people to adopt those behaviors too. Most of all, Sax says, serving as a role model works - think of it as "peer pressure." The person you have the most control over is yourself. In some cases, it's also OK to simply make sure your mask is properly donned and try to keep your distance from the person in question - a strategy Karan says is akin to "defensive driving." "For others, it may be a matter of 'personal rights.'"Įxercise good judgement, our sources stress. "People may not believe the data on masks and are further skeptical because of the CDC's position change on masks," he says. Sometimes, trying to correct the behaviors of strangers can feel awkward or pointless - in many cases, Karan says, people's decision to not adhere to health requirements can come down to differences in beliefs and values rather than apathy or simply forgetting. Strangers don't want to hear you expound on epidemiological studies, and public places aren't the correct settings for these sorts of "didactic exchanges." Please use it.' "Ī gentle nudge, like " Wearing a mask protects you and others," can go a long way, says Sax.įurthermore, because these encounters will be in public, it's important to not get too technical, he says. Personally, I would say: 'Hey there - here's some hand sanitizer. "The key here is to be kind and communicate your concerns clearly without stigmatizing others or making them feel like they are at fault. "Shaming never works - it didn't work in past epidemics and it won't work in this one," says Harvard Medical School physician Dr. In this light, it's probably smart to not waste energy by acting on lower-risk examples: maybe disregard "the jogger going by without a mask, an unmasked family having a picnic, etc."įor public settings you've identified as potentially high-risk (say, our peach-touching friend at the market), think wisely about how you can convey the message in the most "non-threatening way." Mostly, this will apply to indoor spaces with large crowds, like markets or other public gatherings, he says. Sax says it's a good idea to channel your focus on the highest risk situations - instances where you think an individual actually poses danger to others and where you think your intervention will help. Paul Sax, clinical director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital, is to find the "sweet spot" - to strike a balance between politeness and public health. But sometimes it really, really does feel as if the world is at stake. On the other hand, it can be awkward to encourage others to follow health guidelines. On the one hand, you care about safety and believe others ought to stick to certain rules for the well-being of the general public. Health experts agree that the etiquette of epidemics can be super thorny. So do you say anything - and if so, what? Yikes! There are so many new no-no's in the age of COVID-19. Maybe they're failing to maintain distance from other customers or letting their mask slip. Is there a way to politely tell someone to follow the rules?įingering various food items - whether bagged or unbagged - isn't the only way people break the rules of preventing viral spread during a pandemic. At the farmer's market I saw a woman break the "do not touch what you're not buying" guideline clearly printed on a big sign and pick up and inspect a dozen plastic bags of peaches.
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