Bizarre social distancing solutions that will (hopefully) never catch on…
Social distancing measures have been the cornerstone of the global effort to fight COVID-19 and, thankfully, most people have stuck to government guidelines.
But as shops, pubs and restaurants re-open, many of us are wondering how we’ll continue to safely practice social distancing.
While there’s been some genuinely great inventions, there’s also been some very unusual creations. Here are some of the most bizarre social distancing solutions that I’ve come across:
TikTok user RyderCalmDown built his very own social distancing alarm and stuck it in a backpack. Now when anyone comes within six feet of him, a very irritating alarm goes off.
If you’re ok with walking around with a very sketchy looking backpack that will scare the bejesus out of anyone that gets too close, then this is solution you need in your life!
A restaurant in the U.S. has rolled out new ‘bumper tables’ that are surrounded by large inner tubes to keep diners from getting too close. The custom-built tables look like huge vinyl records and are on wheels, which means that people can move between the restaurant's parking lot and bar area and mingle with others safely.
Admittedly, these do look quite fun and I’d probably even go to the restaurant to try them out. But I’d imagine that the novelty would wear off pretty quickly — especially when you’re six cocktails in and need the loo.
Italian costume designer Toppino created what she calls ‘structure hats’, which are essentially funny looking hats comprised of large, bent aluminium structures. The hats are apparently meant to help people feel shielded while still maintaining ‘extravagance’.
With a wide brim of around 45 centimetres, the hat supposedly works to create what the designer calls a ‘protective orbit’ around the head.
While these may have been thought of as fashionable back in the 18th century, I can’t imagine too many people jumping on this fashion trend.
Learn more about how the PR industry is handling social distancing measures in this recent blog on how to successfully manage press events in the age of Covid-19.