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32443: Face mask, the new normal

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posted on 2023-12-08, 21:50 authored by Lockdown2020 and Beyond Project

During pandemic, I experienced the transitions of people's attitudes toward wearing face masks. When our department first reopened as a part of the pilot scheme, putting on face masks was not mandatory for people who worked in Biochemistry building. Research students could come back to work on site on a voluntary basis back then. Ever since the first national lockdown, I realized the importance of face masks wearing in order to fight against virus transmission and protect the community in pandemic. I insisted wearing them in public areas all the time, but still encountered some of the uncomfortable behaviours like social gathering without distancing or misunderstanding voices in Oxford downtown where some residents on the street pointed at us with face masks earlier. With the increases of the daily cases and more scientific evidence being used to educate the general public, people gradually accepted the face masks to protect the vulnerable. Nowadays, we are happy to see that everyone working in buildings across the campus is required to follow rules of face masks wearing and distancing.

History

Message for the future

Despite of feeling strange to get used to the new normal, we ought to stay safe and positive in this disadvantage situation and try our best to enjoy every moment. Maybe slowing down a little bit for living may not be a bad idea. Perhaps it helps us to clear our minds and find a way to balance work and life. From the perspective of a student reading DPhil in Biochemistry, I hope we can value the scientific facts about pandemic and the measures for prevention. We should be considerate and responsible to ourselves and people in the community, starting from the keeping distancing, wearing face masks and washing hands regularly.

About the picture(s)

These pictures recorded my 'New Normal' during pandemic, including starting to take up the habits to wear masks, in the first lockdown doing traditional Chinese calligraphy as my leisure moment, taking a walk in Jericho and feeling fascinating about the views of typical Oxford summer in Port Meadows.

When

2020-06, 2020-09, 2020-10

Where

The University Park/New Biochemistry Building in a quiet lockdown period/Port Meadows/Jericho

Creator

Wendy

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