On my birthday, November 17th, I visited cakes and creams at Adeola Honeywell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, to get a cake and the Covid 19 procedures left me in awe.
At the door, there were security officers that made sure everyone coming in made use of hand sanitizer. Inside the confectionery, there were social distancing stickers on the ground indicating where each customer should stand, which was almost 10 cm apart from each other. The process was orderly and I appreciated the safety measures.
It’s no lie that we were all taken by surprise with the impact of the dreaded Covid 19 pandemic. In a blink of an eye, life went from normal to fearfully unusual, with so many restrictions and protocols in a swift response to preserve life and prevent the spread of the virus.
In times like these, it is important to be positive and hopeful for better days. Also, it’s a time to explore new ways of living out our daily lives safely. Now with all the restrictions on where to go and what to do, we often wonder when will this be over? Where is safe? How can I keep safe? What can we actually do?
The main goal is to keep safe and healthy before anything else. The good news is that there is still a lot we can actually do, according to infectious disease expert, Ph.D., MD, MAS, and chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UC San Francisco, Kristen Bibbins-Domingo, “This doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom.” Yes, we can still travel, visit places, see loved ones and socialize but with limits and caution.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has publicly concluded that the Covid 19 pandemic may not go away anytime soon and advised countries safely to reopen their economies. We as humans also have to come to terms with the new normal in our lives and adjust to it for the time being
Lagos state having one of the highest cases in Nigeria, makes one wonder how careful do you really need to be and which places observe covid 19 preventive measures? Schools, banks, restaurants, cinemas, and workplaces have slowly reopened and had lots of people roaming in and out in their numbers. While few of the places may have thrown away their covid 19 protective measures, most public places still adhere to these measures. Most banks, eateries, and public gatherings enforce the use of face masks, sanitizers, and temperature checks before allowing customers to have access to their facilities
For those planning to travel, go for events, weekend getaways, and much more for the festive season here is what to keep in mind.
(1) Make sure the Airline or Bus you are using to travel, enforces the use of face masks and temperature checks for all passengers.
(2) If you are having dinners or drinks at restaurants or public bars, go for the option of sitting outdoors or by the poolside as this is safer than staying in an enclosed setting.
(3) Visit hotels, resorts, restaurants, and bars that have outdoor sitting spaces and observe Covid 19 preventive measures.
(4) Choose places that have the right Covid 19 gathering sizes, like remote beaches resorts and keep away from crowded events and places.
(5) Stay clear of buffet services at restaurants, where many people may have touched one utensil. It’s best to order from the menu list or use sanitized towel papers to hold onto those serving spoons and pickers.
(6) If you must lodge at a hotel or resort, be observant to identify if the hotel you are about to use has social distancing signs in the lobby and common areas.
(7) Make use of your face masks always.
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