32443: Face mask, the new normal

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.