Here we are still stuck in the Covid-19 pandemic. As you may recall, I’ve written about gloves a few times. Both pieces discussed how people are disgustingly tossing their used gloves onto the street. Masks, too. But now it is time to discuss gloves in a different light. A positive one.
At the beginning of the pandemic, it was advised to wear gloves in addition to masks.
Stores and Amazon sold out quickly. You saw street vendors popping up on the corners selling them. Several weeks later most people stopped wearing gloves. Many people are washing and/or sanitizing their hands more frequently. I wore gloves longer than most. I still do wear them at some points.
I wear them to open the entrance doors in my building, the incinerator and to grab items off the shelves in supermarkets. However, I’ve gotten good at using the trash bag and recyclables to prop open the incinerator door.
I was using them to swipe my MetroCard. Sometimes I still do. But I can swipe without ever touching the turnstile. As I am typing and thinking about my glove usage over the last few months, I’ve wondered if I should have always worn them. Or propped open doors as mentioned?
As a germophobe, I’ve often wondered about touching things like doorknobs, the turnstiles in subways, the armrests on seats in movie theaters, sports stadiums and concert halls. I almost always wear a hat to the movies. I never want my head to touch the back of the seat.
If I sit on the subway my head is usually an inch or two away from touching the seatback. I can stand on the train and never have to hold onto the poles. Sometimes during the winter, I’d keep my gloves on and grab a pole.
We’ve all had to use public restrooms. Some are clean. Most are grosser than gross. That’s why I always carried Purell. It is my camera, gym and Jansport bags. I was always afraid to wash my hands in Penn Station’s restroom after a show at Madison Square Garden. Who isn’t? Thankfully many of these places have auto flush. But walking into them wearing rubber gloves would have been a nice touch. I do that now when I take my walks in public parks. Of course, some have closed their bathrooms. Using the ATM is another time to always wear gloves. Same with signing your name on the credit card machines in stores.
The bottom line, pandemic, or not gloves is an important protective measure. I may use them forever.
Prior posts are here.
Pandemic Watch: Back to the City
“Pandemic Watch: Facial expressions,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/29/939
“Pandemic Watch: What will we do with our masks and gloves at the end?”
Pandemic Watch, Staying in Shape,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/17/pandemic-watch-staying-in-shape
“Pandemic Watch: Community groups stepping up,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/15/pandemic-watch-community-groups-stepping-up
“Pandemic Watch: Have masks replaced fuzzy dice in windshields?”
“Pandemic Watch: How will we be entertained?”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/08/pandemic-watch-how-will-we-be-entertained
“Pandemic Watch: Communicating via video,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/03/pandemic-watch-communicating-via-video
“Single Life,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/02/pandemic-watch-single-life
“Pandemic Watch: Seniors and lifesaving phone calls during the pandemic or other times,”
“Pandemic Watch: There are places I remember.”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/pandemic-watch-there-are-places-i-remember
“Pandemic Watch: Creating a new fashion statement,”
“Pandemic Watch: Sitting on your stoop,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/pandemic-watch-sitting-on-your-stoop
“Pandemic Watch: What does a four-year-old think about our situation?”
“Pandemic Watch: Will my nephew ever know how good it was?”
“Pandemic Watch: What will happen when I get released on parole?”
“Pandemic Watch: We live in interesting times,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/pandemic-watch-we-live-in-interesting-times
“Pandemic Watch: Dressing during the Covid-19 pandemic,”
“Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/pandemic-watch-yes-it-is-monday
“How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic, “
“How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits,”
“Traveling on public transit and being outside during the Covid-19 pandemic,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/traveling-on-public-transit-and-being-outside-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
“Grocery shopping during Covid-19. Or anytime,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/grocery-shopping-during-covid-19-or-anytime
“I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…,”
“Masks and gloves,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/608
“Trashy Parks,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/trashy-parks
Mitchell's thoughts, photos, etc. 
11 thoughts on “Pandemic Watch “Gloves””