MARTINS FERRY — A recent survey of 2,000 Americans shows most of those people are willing to continue COVID-19 precautions — such as wearing masks, avoiding crowds and frequent hand washing and sanitizing — after the pandemic subsides.

According to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, of the people who participated in the survey, 72 percent said they planned to continue wearing a mask in public; 80 percent said they still planned to avoid crowds of people; and 90 percent said they would keep washing their hands frequently along with using hand sanitizers.

“While the progress we’re making toward recovery is exciting, it is critical that we don’t ease up on the precautions that we know have worked thus far,” said Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, chief quality and patient safety officer at OSU Wexner Medical Center. “Masks and physical distancing are still our very best weapons for limiting spread and, now that we have a vaccine, it will make those precautions even more effective and will drive new cases way down if we stay the course.”

Some local residents expressed their opinion on taking such precautions in the future after the pandemic is considered over.

Terri Jarrett of St. Clairsville said she definitely will keep up some of the precautions, such as frequent handwashing, but she is looking forward to the day when masks are not necessary on a daily basis.

“I think COVID-19 has been a big wake-up call on the dangers some viruses present, that they can happen right here in our own backyards,” Jarrett said. “We have gone from knowingly going everywhere with a cold and pushing through work and school while we are sick to understanding this is something completely different, with potentially deadly consequences.”

Jarrett said because of the pandemic, her mindset on how to handle precautions related to viruses “will be forever changed.”

“My family will continue to practice proper handwashing and to use hand sanitizer as a permanent change. In regards to mask wearing, I hope we get to a place in time where they will no longer be necessary in the near future,” Jarrett said.

Wheeling resident Chris Villamagna said she plans to remain cautious in the future when it comes to crowds.

“I will definitely consider avoiding super packed crowds and wearing a mask, especially during cold and flu season,” Villamagna said.

Sue Kraft of Bridgeport said she now doesn’t think twice about grabbing a mask before heading out now. In the future, she may continue to wear them while in a crowd. Since the beginning of the pandemic, she has sewn hundreds of masks for herself and others to use.

“Well, I am now making St. Patrick’s Day masks and got my Easter material ready. So I guess I will be wearing masks for some time,” she said.

“How many masks have I made? I stopped counting when I hit 600-plus. I have a pile on the table ready to put together now. I have made 20 this past week for people that have to work every day,” she said, noting the masks have themes such as Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day and some Disney characters.

Kraft has clean, homemade masks hanging on her front door and another bunch of masks hanging in her dining room for her and others to grab and use.

“It is a habit now to grab a mask as you head out the door. … I think if I go out into a crowd of people I will be wearing my masks. At least for a while,” she said.

Dr. C. Clark Milton, director of corporate health and chairman of the infectious disease department at Wheeling Hospital, said he believes people will still need to wear masks and follow social distancing recommendations for at least the next year or so. Until most of the population can get vaccinated, people still need to help decrease the spread of the virus.

“I think it’s extremely important we reduce the spread of coronavirus. … There is a lot of hope, but we have a lot of work to do yet,” he said, adding there are many more people who need to be vaccinated.

After the pandemic is declared over, Milton believes the experience of having gone through it will change many people’s behaviors forever. Many will be more careful about blocking their sneezes and coughs and having better hand hygiene. And when people get sick, many will opt to stay home instead of going to work and potentially spreading their germs to others.

“I don’t think five years from now people will be as aggressive with masking,” Milton said, adding people have learned that droplets spread viruses and will likely be more careful in the future. “I hope we won’t have to do that.”

But for at least the next year or so, he said, the three W’s will continue to be important: Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Watch your distance by staying at least 6 feet apart.

Robert Sproul, deputy commissioner of the Belmont County Health Department, believes the debate over masks has been a contentious one during the pandemic and will likely continue after it is declared over.

“In many countries people have worn masks to reduce or prevent contraction or spreading of respiratory diseases for years. So the decision to wear a mask after this pandemic should be each person’s choice to make,” Sproul said. “During bad flu seasons it has been encouraged to avoid large crowds to prevent contracting the flu, and for that purpose it is useful. After the pandemic it should be each person’s choice concerning large crowds.”

Sproul said frequent handwashing and use of hand sanitizer was recommended long before the pandemic began. Both should continue to be done for basic hygiene and the prevention of disease transmission, he said.

“Many outbreaks or infections could be prevented by simply washing your hands. Staying home if you are sick and covering your coughs and sneezes should also be continued during and after the pandemic,” Sproul said.

Dr. Jeremy Edgmon, chief medical officer at East Ohio Regional Hospital, believes people should be extra careful for as long as it is deemed necessary.

“Given the current focus on staying safe during the pandemic, it remains a good idea for people to make sure they continue to take reasonable precautions until we can be sure that it is safe to begin to relax them,” Edgmon said. “From an overall health perspective, it is always a good idea to wash your hands frequently and stay at home if you are feeling sick.”