9Comments
Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, there has been endless research on how to get the virus outbreaks under control. Countless studies have shown that the best tools we have at the moment – until we have a vaccine, or at least an effective treatment – are incredibly basic: Keep your distance from others, and wear a mask where this isn't possible.
Some studies have gone further, with recent research from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health concluding that "maintaining social distancing and other interventions such as the use of face masks and hand hygiene could remove the need for future lockdowns" and avoid a dreaded second wave.
The problem is.... humans. As well as the anti-maskers (by the way please just wear a mask, you aren't Braveheart fighting for your freedoms, you're a jerk who refuses to wear a bit of cloth over your face to save somebody's gran), there are people for whom getting used to the idea of social distancing takes a little longer. Governments have had to plan for getting populations used to the idea, with constantly updated guidance on everything from wearing masks to using gloryholes.
The private sector is no different. Restaurants, bars, and shops have had to figure out how they can help people maintain social distancing in places that weren't designed with this in mind. Hence all the nightmarish photos you may have seen of restaurants using mannequins in place of diners.
If you add horror synth and a brief glimpse of Norman Bates at the end we've got a trailer for a sequel to Psycho where he opens a low-budget diner.
In some stores, they have laid out helpful signs to tell you where to stand in order to keep your distance from others. Some places have hired Covid-19 compliance officers in order to help keep work and public spaces safe by monitoring and directing ways to social distance.
Which brings us to an alarming meeting betwixt the two, which has everyone either facepalming or sinking further into despair.
Yeah. Not great compliance going on there, officer. The tweet has been shared over 165,000 times with people calling it the most American thing ever (or British), which it is, even though it's in Ireland.
You'd think that if you were a Covid-19 compliance officer you'd be the one taking extra care to comply with Covid-19 safety measures, or at least recognize in public places you are a target likely to be photographed and demonstrate said measures. He literally had one job.
People have of course pointed out that he's being heavily outperformed by pigeons, seagulls, and cats, who are famed for not complying with any instruction they've been issued.
Some guessed at his work ethic.
Here's hoping everyone else takes fewer lunch breaks from social distancing than he does.
