Pandemic give rise to bywords for the ‘new normal’

By Jaime S. Cabag

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted words and phrases that are becoming part of our active vocabulary as we live in the “new normal.”

They come to the fore in similar ways that global warming, greenhouse gases, adaptation and mitigation, etc. have become bywords amid the climate change issue.

Some of these words and phrases that became fashionable amid the pandemic are COVID-19, physical distancing, wearing of face mask, regular hand washing, thermal scanning, community quarantine, lockdown, asymptomatic, flattening the curve, co-morbidities, immunocompromised, rapid test and RT-PCR tests, health protocols, and PPE.

Others bywords are balik probinsya, oratio imperata, work from home, blended learning, quarantine pass, frontliner, PUI, PUM, locally stranded individuals, ROFs, stay at home, border control, transmission, history of travel, contact training, and new normal.

They are embedded in the resolutions of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) or contained in the advisories or social media posts of the Department of Health.

“They have now become common words under the new normal,” according to former PIA6 Regional Director lawyer Ma. Janet C. Mesa.

The National Inter-Agency Task Force defines new normal as the “emerging behaviors, situations, and minimum public health standards that will be institutionalized in common or routine practices and remain even after the pandemic while the disease is not totally eradicated through means such as widespread immunization.”

It includes “actions that will become second nature to the general public as well as policies such as bans on large gatherings that will continue to remain in force”.

On physical distancing, wearing of mask, hand washing and other health-related measures, DOH-Center for Health Development 6 Health Promotion Cluster Head Dr. May Ann Sta. Lucia said these now have become part of our daily life, a result of behavior change, and a health seeking one at that.

In fact, these have been part of our advocacy since then, Dr. Sta. Lucia added, referring to the health protocols during the occurrence of infectious diseases.

She summed up the core health measures to be practiced in the new normal: proper hand washing, physical distancing, and respiratory etiquette.

The media have also been contributing a lot in creating public awareness about these measures or messages.

People get to know about, and learn, them as these are disseminated through news and related contents, remarked a media practitioner.

Current PIA6 OIC-Regional Head Jemin Guillermo said these terms contain messages that make people aware of the pandemic and the imperative need to protect themselves against an unseen enemy by following health measures prescribed by DOH, which are aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Guillermo also enjoined the public to cooperate and support the government efforts in fighting COVID-19.

“Together, we heal as one,” Guillermo said. (PIA)