The past two years have been unprecedented for the world at large due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but over two years later, doors have finally begun to open back up. Classes, religious services, and even court cases are back in session like they used to be before the pandemic. Much of this is due to many of the previous years’ restrictions being pulled back for different facilities, especially in areas where local municipalities have reopened faster.
A lot of these eased or removed restrictions are now at a governmental level, making it even more likely for various facilities to begin operating normally if they haven’t already. In order to make their services as safe as possible, certain facilities might still want to implement certain protocols. Here’s a look back at how the pandemic impacted a few industries in particular, how things have recovered, and how you can continue to keep those in your facility safe.
COVID-19’s Impact On Religious Facilities, Government Facilities, and Schools
After March 2020, people were faced with a new reality that felt completely alien from life beforehand, and the result was catastrophic in many cases. Numerous industries had to adapt, relying on new procedures or doing away with their usual operations altogether. For many religious facilities, this meant abandoning in-person services and instead having them remotely, be it through phone or video. For those that remained opened or slowly began resuming services, social distancing was the word of the day, with seating being more spread out than usual and masks many times being required. Government facilities, namely courthouses also had heavily altered operations, with masks being required and some court cases being handled remotely. In the case of elementary, middle, and high schools, the initial response across the country was to close schools down for the rest of the semester, shifting students to experimental remote learning. This presented a huge challenge in terms of connectivity and education access, with around 16 million students in the US not having a working device or reliable internet to be able to engage in remote learning. Reopening for in-class instruction was many times decided at a local level, with different districts implementing varying degrees of protocols. For some areas of the country, they’re only now returning to a sense of normalcy for students, showcasing how widespread the effects of the pandemic ended up being. Many times, these stemmed from broader stay-at-home orders within a particular state, affecting a wide range of industries and everyday life outside of schools, religious facilities, and government buildings.
Renewing Your Facility’s Dedication to Safety
It’s been over two years since the initial onset of the pandemic, with many facilities having already returned to a sense of normalcy. Thanks to a combination of factors – including a vaccine, treatment methods, and a simple increase in knowledge about the nature of the virus – the once dire tone surrounding COVID-19 has become one that’s far more manageable. This is reflected at an organizational and individual level, with the CDC itself recently pulling back on many of their health recommendations. Restrictions and mandates are falling by the wayside, allowing citizens to enjoy a life closer to that of pre-2020.
Not all of the elements during the pandemic era were necessarily bad, however, with the push for remote learning and similar services in religious and government facilities offering new options for how to conduct everyday operations. Likewise, the renewed push for safety and protecting the well-being of everyone within a facility should continue to be a priority, regardless of COVID-19. These social distancing and health practices can be kept as part of the work, school, and worship culture within a facility by maintaining and updating the corresponding signage needed to communicate them.
As visitors, guests, students, and staff walk through your facility, let them know where to safely stand by installing social distancing floor decals. In the past two years that these social distancing signs have been implemented, they’ve likely become blemished and worn through, necessitating replacements that keep facilities looking fresh and up to date. Even with things being opened up, there may still be services or amenities within your facility that still aren’t available. Mark these areas with “out of service” signs, pointing out what’s still closed off. Religious facilities in particular may have couches or seats that guests can take advantage of, so be sure to implement seat cover graphics to keep users safe and relaxed. For the facility’s front office or administrative desk, keep the front of house staff and any visitors safe via counter sneeze guards. Available in several different sizes, these create a barrier between people and germs, all while still allowing for face to face interaction. Speaking of the front desk, it’s always a great idea to have a hand sanitizer holder there so that those coming in can disinfect at their leisure.
Cleanliness should also reach beyond the pandemic, so be sure to order and install general health and safety signage. These inform visitors of any health best practices in your facility, including hand washing, maintaining a safe distance, and covering one’s mouth when coughing. They could also be used to point out any staffing issues or other limitations, explaining away potential wait times. By continuing to promote these health practices, your facility will be able to safely open, reopen, or remain open to welcome people in. Whether it’s replacing social distancing signs or ordering something else entirely, Intersign Corporation is here to meet all your signage needs. With our dedication to the compliancy standards of regulations organizations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and a Life-of-the-Building Guarantee that promises to replace any of our signs that are found to be faulty, we’re your one-stop shop for ordering the signage that’s required in your particular facility.