The New Normal...

The New Normal

On April 29, 2020, at the daily press briefing, the Chief Medical Officer of Trinidad and Tobago officially began the operationalisation of the 'New Normal'.  This he said, was the forerunner to any possibility of easing restrictions. He inroduced six aspects of the 'New Normal' :

  1. Washing Hands
  2. Cough Etiquette
  3. Social Distancing
  4. Use of Masks
  5. Sanitisation of Surfaces
  6. Stay at home if unwell
So let's pick up from where I left off yesterday morning with regard to this 'New Normal'.  My Facebook post read:

"The New Normal...🤔Only the masks is new. I surmise that we should have been washing hands regularly, covering mouths or coughing into crook of arm, sanitizing surfaces before using them, staying at home if feeling unwell and respecting peoples personal space and not be up under them in a line. I surmise... A positive from COVID-19 is that old practices we should have been engaging in, but flippantly ignored are now written into history under the concept "The New Normal". So you can stop calling me 'Monk' now🤦🏽‍♀️. For the first time, i am down to my last few wet ones and lysol wipes because since the end of February I have been unable to restock😫😫😫...thanks to "New (mandated) Normal"...🤷‍♀️ At least I will no longer have intrusions on my personal space when I am standing in a line..." (PPR Facebook April 29, 2020)

THE NEW NORMAL - ARMOUR

Today, I was pushed into the future of the new normal, as I cautiously ventured out to the grocery, in my new armour.
The New Normal:  Armour

The new normal has made us all superheroes. Not only must we wear masks  (I am reminded of Zorro), we also have to arm ourselves with appropriate ready to use tools.  These tools are necessary to ensure that we do not touch our faces, we are sanitized and we protect ourselves from the invisible enemy who can utilise any shell - asymptomatic or otherwise - to attack us unawares.  Here are some of the tools:



The New Normal: Tools to ensure I contain the germs

The New Normal?  Inside 'The Handbag' are more tools!


WHAT IS SO NEW ABOUT THIS NORMAL?

But what really is so new about this normal?  My bags have always contained wipes, soap leaves, hand sanitiser, wet ones, liquid soap, tissue, gloves, alcohol and a host of other stuff.   I have been told in the past that I washed my hands too much and wiped surfaces too often,.  I admit I avoided 'unnecessary' handshakes, hugs and kisses.  So this normal is not new to me.  It was  considered abnormal so the sobriquet "Monk" was applied.

What is new about this normal is that hygiene is now mandated!
Hygiene now mandated!



Personal space is finally guaranteed via social distancing initiatives!

Personal space guaranteed! Yippee!

Boundary lines prevent persons from breathing down your neck in lines! Finally!


Respecting boundaries!



THE MASK
The mask hides our faces but reveals our nature.  What is new is that the act of greeting must now be communicated with the eyes rather than lips which, when seen in the past, may have twitched but not necessarily smiled.  A smile lights up the eyes.  Lips may lie; eyes don't.  With the new normal, lying lips that twitch behind masks are revealed for what they are by cold eyes that stare at you with recognition, but little else.  You can't twitch eyes to show you smile; it is either warm or cold.  The eyes are the windows to the soul.  In the new normal, I anticipate there won't be much eye contact as we go about our business.
Lips may deceive but eyes don't lie!
So, with the real possibility that there won't be a vaccine before December, this is our 'new normal' on which the lifting of restrictions is hinged.  Arm up, the enemy is still invisible, mysterious and unknown; it lurks in asymptomatic shells to catch you unaware.   Be vigilant as you venture out.  And remember...the mask is still not a guarantee...things are not always as they see(m)!

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