6 in 10 ‘likely to keep to good hygiene, safe habits’ after Covid-19: NTU study

Wearing masks outdoors, using hand sanitiser, avoiding large gatherings and observing safe distancing are practices many Singaporeans will keep to when Covid-19 is over, according to a nationwide online study by NTU. More than six in 10 of those surveyed said they are likely to take these precautionary measures and practise good hygiene and habits even when the pandemic is under control. The study of 1,606 people was commissioned by the university’s Centre for Information Integrity and the Internet (IN-cube). The poll, carried out last month, was part of a larger survey tracking Singapore residents during the Covid-19 outbreak to understand the pandemic’s long-term effects on their social behaviour, said Assoc Prof Edson Tandoc Jr, the director of IN-cube, yesterday. IN-cube is a new research centre at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information that was set up to promote integrity in online spaces. NTU student A. Aravind, 24, said he has been looking forward to the end of Covid-19, but will still willingly wear a face mask after that. Research administration trainee Wong Jing Hui from NTU’s LKCMedicine said she will continue to wear a mask when unwell and use hand sanitiser frequently after the pandemic.