After several weeks of confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we must all, little by little, return to the so-called "new normality", go to work, school, go out to public spaces.

Use of face masks, antibacterial gel, temperature taking, sanitized spaces, healthy distance. Rotation, staggered schedules, installation of sanitary stations. All this will be normalized and it can make us afraid to go out on the street in the face of a risk of contagion.

When a person experiences fear or rejection of the need to expose themselves and leave the house after a long period without doing so, they may suffer from "cabin syndrome", according to UNAM.

Lee: New normality in CDMX begins with many people on the street and in traffic; they think the pandemic is over

Some reactions can occur in the emotional field or with cognitive symptoms, as well as physiological characteristics; tachycardia, sweating and motor difficulty. It is also possible to suffer from anxiety disorders, depression and stress.

Dr. Erika Villavicencio Ayub, a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, recommended that if fear prevents the person from doing her activities, successive approximations be carried out gradually with the aim of being exposed to the negative stimulus associated with leaving. .

To begin with, you can set small goals such as leaving the garbage outside or going to the store, it is necessary to try repeatedly and with a higher degree of difficulty to overcome the situation. In this way, the person will be able to manage anxiety and fear.

The specialist stressed that it is vitally important that protection measures be followed during these exercises or when returning to work: use a mask, face mask and antibacterial gel.

In addition, it is recommended to plan a family entry and exit protocol, consider what will be the safe area to leave your clothes or shoes after work, what will be the care procedure during trips on public transport.

Lee: Without food buffet and timed entry, this is how events and expos will be in the new normal

Villavicencio Ayub indicated that if the rules of self-care and healthy distance are not incorporated, it can contribute to experiences that feed the fear of contagion and that these are triggered at a higher level.

The specialist highlighted that eight out of ten people are afraid to return to work.

The main concerns are exposure to poor practices and cleaning measures within the facilities, that not all colleagues take the same care and spread the contagion. As well as exposure during the journey on public transport or taking the infection to vulnerable members of their family, either due to health or age issues.

“Some others comment that they are very concerned because in their organizations the necessary measures have not been taken at the beginning, nor during, and much less now. Some even reported that there were infections and even deaths, so in those situations they are extremely terrified of having to return because information has been hidden from them.”

Find out: HSBC employees denounce that cases of COVID-19 are hidden and sanitary measures are not complied with

Villavicencio stressed that the challenge for companies is to take responsibility and take measures to ensure the peace of mind of workers so that they can perform their activities optimally. He added that companies must communicate clearly and precisely, through the available official channels, to avoid the degradation of information, which will generate a state of security in the collaborators.