WILL PHYSICAL DISTANCING BE THE NEW PERCEIVED WAY OF LIFE IN THE POST-COVID-19 PANDEMIC ERA?

Abstract

Objective: The current study was conducted to determine whether people will keep practicing physical distancing behavior as part of their daily lives after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A structured questionnaire was prepared online using "QuestionPro" software for surveys, and the study was conducted electronically. The questionnaire for the study had two components, the first was related to the participant's demographics, and the other was about physical distancing questions. There were 16 questions in total. Results: Women were more fearful/careful and would want to limit socializing than men. The religious aspect is one primary reason people will be willing to avoid physical distancing. Physical distancing was more acceptable to people with higher education levels. This physical distancing trend might affect the public transportation and tourism industry. Conclusion: This study showed that the female gender and population with higher education are willing to follow better adherence to SOPs of the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: Post-pandemic, physical distancing, lifestyle, behavior, Pakistan