Handshake has always been a way for diseases to spread, but since we hadn't faced a deadly pandemic in a century, we didn't really pay attention. Now being hyper aware of what we touch is part of the new daily routine and handshakes are out of the picture as one of the main means of transmission of the coronavirus.
Removing this custom is taking its toll. Many of us are uncertain of how to greet others, which is why we tend to laugh when switching to fistbumps, waving from a distance, peace signs or bowing instead. As if it was an awkward joke. It is awkward and will be for some more time, because we're breaking a long-standing social convention. But it's not a joke. And it's now clear the pandemic isn't going away within weeks, it might hardly be fully contained in a matter of months. Will we return to the handshake at all?
Donald Trump's leading infectious disease advisor Dr Anthony Fauci thinks it might be best to just let the handshake go. “I don't think we should ever shake hands ever again, to be honest with you. Not only would it be good to prevent coronavirus disease, it probably would decrease instances of influenza dramatically in this country.”
Dr Fauci thinks that extra bit of caution will remain within our societies when we recover from this latest epidemic and individuals will remain wary of actions we never gave a second thought before. “I don't think we're ever going to get back to free-flying lack of attention to what transmissibility of infections are. I think that people are going to be careful.” he said during a Wall Street Journal podcast.
