Paper short abstract:

The pandemic has brought with it a number of different habits, like covering mouths and noses, and keeping a distance when in public. Will some of the new habits continue post-pandemic? How do informants visualize post-pandemic times, when it comes to habits?

Paper long abstract:

A few years ago, politicians from the Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) commented that immigrants to Norway should do as the Romans when in Rome, that is, shaking hands and not covering faces when in Norway. These statements did not age well. Shaking hands came to an immediate stop in March 2020, and some months later, face masks were recommended, some places even mandatory. In addition distance grew larger between pedestrians, and between restaurant guests; entering a workplace with a cough and a cold was stigmatized etc. A number of different previous trivial habits changed when the pandemic arrived. There is still a pandemic, and it is too early to find out which of the new habits that will continue post-corona. In this presentation I will discuss a few selected new habits, like the use of face masks and keeping a distance, and I will question whether and how these pandemic initiated habits will stay on a more permanent basis. Research material will be interviews on how informants visualize post-corona times.