GH025-0001
Build a Safe Normal Initiative

Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Poster
Sanjiv Kumar, Auburn University, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn, AL, United States, Heather Bair-Brake, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States, Salman Azhar, Auburn University, School of Building Science, Auburn, United States, Stephanie R. Ostrowski, Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, United States, Andrea Perkins, Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, United States, Wonjun Lee, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, United States and Melvena Wilson, Tuskegee University, Department of Graduate Public Health, Tuskegee, United States
Abstract:
Frontiers in Public Health has accepted a new multi-disciplinary research topic ‘Build a Safe Normal Initiative’ with participation from Frontiers in Big Data, Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, and Frontiers in Political Science. The research topic is open for submission for the evidence based research and informed opinion from today’s thought leaders and scientist. The goal of this presentation is to inform the scientific community about the core ideas behind the ‘Build a Safe Normal Initiative’ and seek their contributions.

The central hypothesis is that the enormity of the COVID-19 pandemic and its multi-faceted effects on society require redesign of our everyday lives. This research topic will explore the ideas of societal and workplace re-arrangements, i.e. changing the way we work and interact with others. We seek thoughts on the concept of alternate workdays, compressed work-weeks, solutions for childcare and education, as well as innovative ideas and re-arrangement, e.g. using the green barrier at public places, pausing of face-to-face dining, and other strategies that could slow or even stop the spread of COVID-19 while at the same time, allowing the economy to function.

The core of the proposed idea - "Build a Safe Normal by Design" is a concept of facilitating the implementation of CDC/WHO guidelines by social, architectural (interior design), transportation infrastructure, and policy redesign, and public discourse through moderated discussion that encourages people's participation in finding and implementing solutions for mitigating viral transmission through the pandemic response.

Some examples of the ‘Build a Safe Normal by Design’ include: Google’s work-from-home option, and Walmart announcement for closure on Thanksgiving Day 2020. We hope to increase adoption of such measures by quantifying their impacts on slowing down the COVID19 spread in the community.

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