Wouldn't this make more sense as a social distancing practice?
Asked by
Jeruba (
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November 11th, 2020
Virus or no virus, I end up spending a lot of time in waiting rooms on account of medical stuff, mainly my husband’s.
In these places, as well as in public venues I’ve seen in the news, close-positioned seating has been removed or marked off against use, keeping people well apart. So far, so good, theoretically.
But what this means in practice is that people in the waiting area or other seating accommodation are forced into using the same few seats that were just used before them. Just now, for instance, waiting to be called at the lab, there were only five seats available, where about ten have been taken out. So I stood until someone got up, and then I took his place.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to rotate or stagger seat use, so that maybe I sit down in a seat some guy left three hours ago and not three seconds ago?
I’m not sure how it would work, but I am sure there’s a way, and it should be fairly simple, even without “NEXT” lights like they use for the cashier at the next open checkout counter.
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8 Answers
Probably better, if it were practical. But I think better like “I installed a bank vault door on my house” better. In theory true, but practically not worth the effort.
From what I read, airborne breathe and mist and droplets are the common carriers. Masks cut that down immensely. Don’t jump into a chair where someone just sneezed.
I had three months of physical therapy in a hospital, three days a week, from July through August. The hospital staff had lower infection rates than the general population. Our therapists were wearing the same kind of blue paper mask I buy from Amazon.
Correction: Three months from July through September. I “graduated” from physical therapy on September 30. They gave me a certificate!
Typically, people naturally space themselves. As long as they controlled how many people can enter the room, people would be distanced even without covid, unless there is a TV or something that people might congregate near.
I’m thinking in most waiting rooms if you don’t sit in the seats designated, then you will be too close to someone.
Many doctors where I live have people wait in their cars or outside until they are ready to bring you in.
They don’t typically space themselves by 6 feet unless they have a social disorder.
Yes but it would require paying attention on the behalf of the people waiting. THAT’S not happening!
@Dutchess_III True. You have to have a large room with only a 2–3 people for it to be likely to happen naturally. Most people seem to have no ability to judge 6 feet, especially if they are talking or if they know the person. I was with friends last week, and I kept backing up to distance. I’d take a step back, and they would take a step closer. After the third time I finally said, “I keep moving back and you keep moving closer.” Both of them take COVID seriously, wear masks, avoid even going to the supermarket a lot.
I find I need more like 8–10 feet to feel comfortable.
I think the chair rotation is a good idea, but it would require the office staff to take time to rope off the alternating chairs every now and then. Staff is probably short staffed, and probably wants to stay behind their acrylic barriers instead of being out with the patients.
Right @jca2. Someone would have to direct traffic.
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