HEALTHY ACTIONS. The COVID-19 pandemic taught people about upholding health standards such as hand washing techniques and wearing masks when sick. However, the standards have changes as COVID-19 becomes a thing of the past. (Illustration: Lucy Thomas via Canva)

Bird flu plagues the egg prices, Measles is on the rise, and COVID-19 mandates have become history. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a mass rise in health action to protect those at risk. Misinformation spread at an alarming rate, with Americans taking dangerous dietary supplements, disinfecting their own bodies, and exposing themselves to harmful UV lights as potential health remedies.

Actions were taken in good faith while research was done to better understand the virus. For example, SPA’s COVID-19 response; surfaces were frequently disinfected to ensure that there was no risk of indirect contact transmission that was suggested by early data. Come January 2022, there was little epidemiological evidence to support the indirect contact route, and this practice gradually faded. While the sources the SPA administration likely used were scientific, the evidence and response changed with the risk.

Within the nation, there were competing responses based on culture, information, and sourcing. Different information led to different reactions to vaccines: some rushed to be the first in line, while others thought that it could have adverse health consequences. Pandemic health standards varied, changing, and often misinformed, which is not to say that a few habits picked up along the way weren’t valuable.

More people learned proper techniques for washing their hands and developed an appreciation for face masks and social distancing when sick. These trends continue as the public leaves COVID-19 in the past and embraces a new era of public health risks.

As the threat shifts towards Bird Flu and Measles, the citizenry is misled with false information from other public health safety events. The often overcautious and unnecessary health standards that were created during COVID-19 have faded in proportionally with the risk.

Some people who avoided COVID-19 vaccination, believing it was a health precaution, are now extending that same misinformation to their children’s measles vaccinations. 8% of children are unvaccinated in 2022. Bird Flu has not yet become a public health concern, however, its looming presence suggests a potential pandemic.

From COVID-19, it is important to recognize that global health risks are real and imminent, and there are steps that the public can take to mitigate the risks. However, reverting to fear-based misinformation spread in challenging times is not the route to take. Understanding where health standards come from and what impact they have is important and a lesson to take into whatever health epidemics come our way.