Shaking patients’ hands may become a fad from the past after the COVID-19, says many respondents to a recent Women In Optometry Pop-Up Poll, which asked readers to access the lasting impact from the pandemic. Indeed, 59 percent said that they may never shake patients’ hands again. Some safety precautions may stay for the long haul, as well, with 57 percent saying that they may never ease back on disinfecting protocols, and 51 percent stating that they may never remove acrylic shields that they have installed in their offices.

More than a third of respondents have stopped wearing face shields (37 percent), returned to pre-COVID exam schedules (34 percent) and returned to pre-COVID workwear (36 percent). Yet 38 percent said they may never return to their pre-COVID workwear. Fifty-six percent said that they anticipate wearing masks for at least another six to 12 months.

On a scale from 1 (not very safe/protected) to 5 (extremely safe/protected), respondents were asked to rate how they feel at work now in terms of potential exposure to COVID-19, and many cited that they do feel quite safe at work: 23 percent rated 5, 47 percent rated 4 and 25 percent cited 3. Just 5 percent cited 2, and no one selected 1.

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