By kkhealthcarecentre 
A lot of conversations about the coronavirus pandemic are focused on what’s happening right now. We’re asking questions like: “How do we stop people from getting sick?” and “What should we do about schools and sports?” While these immediate concerns are crucial, we also need to think ahead because the long-term impacts of the virus will eventually become an immediate concern too.
Take, for instance, the widespread use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The pandemic has affected us so deeply that it’s hard to picture a medical setting without PPE anymore. Before COVID-19, you could visit the doctor’s office and hardly ever see face masks, gloves, gowns, or face shields being used. While these items aren’t bad and have always had their uses, they simply weren’t a common sight in everyday medical appointments.
Fear plays a big role here. It’s a powerful and complex emotion that has pushed PPE into the spotlight recently. Hospital administrators, unions, and bureaucrats are insisting on healthcare workers wearing PPE to ensure safety. This insistence comes from fear, which healthcare workers share, and which isn’t necessarily negative, as it can motivate self-preservation.
However, overcoming fear is a challenge. President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously highlighted the danger of fear during his time, stating that fear itself is the real enemy. His words, spoken during the Great Depression amidst looming war threats, underscore the importance of not letting fear make us stand still. Today, as we face a pandemic, these words are as pertinent as ever. Whether you think the pandemic is as severe as some claim or not, it’s clear that fear is dominating our lives now.
PPE isn’t new; it has a defined role. In healthcare settings, PPE protects clinicians and staff from catching infections from patients. It’s also used in other industries to prevent contamination in places like cleanrooms and kitchens.
Some societies have long embraced wearing face masks. In Japan, for example, wearing a mask has been part of life for many decades, stemming from the Spanish flu pandemic over a century ago. As a result, Japan managed the coronavirus without much trouble, as mask-wearing is second nature to them, whether there’s a pandemic or not. Masks are commonly seen in public transport, stores, and eateries. Not wearing one in public might draw attention.
China has also developed a mask-wearing culture, though the initial reason was different. China’s motivation was to protect against pollution, which is a well-known issue due to the country’s large population and extensive industrial activities. Although efforts have been made to reduce pollution, it remains a challenge due to the sheer size and number of factories.
The inevitability of PPE becoming a global standard might be unsettling, as it can be uncomfortable and restrictive, but it is necessary for everyone’s well-being. One concern in the healthcare industry is that PPE usage will persist even after we manage the coronavirus. The ongoing fear of illness might never fully disappear, posing a risk of healthcare workers continuing to live and work in fear, which isn’t ideal.
Ultimately, countries must prepare for a future where PPE remains a part of daily life.