Access to parks and recreation areas for leisure time physical activity and mental health is rapidly evolving. The Center for Disease Control released updated guidelines for visitors and administrators to prevent and support social distancing and safe, clean facilities. Submitted by Ingrid Schneider, University of Minnesota (ingridss@umn.edu)
Parks
United States
Photo credit: Ingrid Schneider
Dental offices have been hit hard by the pandemic. The Texas Dental Association includes re-opening guidelines such as patients or companions waiting in their vehicles if the wait area is too small for social distancing.
Healthcare
United States
Photo credit: Tasoulla Hadjiyanni
The CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting are extensive, covering everything from doorknobs and light switches to screens. How this can be done and maintained remains a question to be seen. Materials that are easier to clean and clutterless environments will ease the stress on facilities management.
Workplaces
United States
Photo credit: https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/04/world/gallery/education-coronavirus-wellness/index.html
The lack of running water and electricity in many homes of Indian country are among the reasons cited for the higher death toll among Native Americans. The pandemic brought to the foreground the impact of disparities in communities of color and the urgency to find ways to eliminate health, income, and educational inequities.
Residential
United States
As offices re-open one of the biggest questions remains – what to do with the elevator? Maintaining social distancing in a tight space can be done by taking advantage of the diagonal. At the same time, what to do with the lines of waiting people needs consideration.
Interior Elements – Elevators
United States
Photo credit: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/elevator-questions-highlight-ups-and-downs-of-reopening-offices
Real estate firms will work with Mayo Clinic lab to study office designs that prevent the spread of Covid-19.The Well Living Lab at the Mayo Clinic is dedicated to researching the indoor environment’s impact on human health. The research will be through field studies at the corporate offices of Cushman & Wakefield, Hines and Delos.
Workplaces
United States
Photo credit: https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2020/04/28/real-estate-firms-work-with-mayo-clinic-lab-to.html
Portland is embarking on the “Slow Streets|Safe Streets Initiative,” which aims to ease social distancing, accommodate more pedestrians and bikers, and make Portland’s eventual re-opening smoother. Three components are of importance: eliminating or slowing car traffic, expanding protected pedestrian spaces and bike lanes on busy streets, and creating dedicated pick-up spots and loading zones on commercial streets. Submitted by Ingrid Schneider, University of Minnesota (ingridss@umn.edu)
As NYC restaurants struggle to find ways to operate during the lockdown, sidewalks come to the rescue. These marked “boxes” are for customers and delivery people to wait for takeout food. Submitted by Jennifer Adler, City University of New York (jadler@bmcc.cuny.edu).
Restaurants
United States
Photo credit: Jennifer Adler
Funeral homes can be overwhelmed with bodies waiting to be cremated. Storing them in trucks can be problematic as trucks have to be refrigerated to avoid infection prevention and control precautions.
Funeral homes
United States
Photo credit: Tasoulla Hadjiyanni
Air ventilation, temperature control, lighting, and noise are now more important than ever in workplaces environments. According to John Macomber, Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, security will also take additional dimensions, monitoring not just through metal detectors but also infrared scanners at building entrances which will take visitors’ temperatures. See also here.
Workplaces
United States
Photo credit: https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/why-covid-19-raises-the-stakes-for-building-health?cid=wk-sm-li-sf121106062&sf121106062=1