Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the White House's top infectious disease expert, predicts that when we emerge on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic, everyone will live far more cautiously.
For instance, he suggests that even rituals as commonplace as a handshake should probably be left behind in the past.
The pandemic will almost certainly change the way survivors live, Fauci said, speaking on The Wall Street Journal's Tuesday podcast.
"I don't think we should ever shake hands ever again, to be honest with you," Fauci said. "Not only would it be good to prevent coronavirus disease, it probably would decrease instances of influenza dramatically in this country."
Ultimately, Fauci predicts that things won't just go back to how they were, from a public health standpoint.
He doesn't think people will immediately act carelessly and risk future infections once they get the all-clear to go outside, socialize, and mingle with others again. Instead, he thinks society will be more vigilant and better-prepared for whatever outbreak hits us next.
"I don't think we're ever going to get back to free-flying lack of attention to what transmissibility of infections are," Fauci said. "I think that people are going to be careful."
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READ MORE: The Journal podcast 4/7. [The Wall Street Journal]
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