Get Ready For A New Lifestyle After The Pandemic Is Over

Update (October 2026): This article was published in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan’s pandemic restrictions, entry rules and relief programs have since ended or changed, so the details here may no longer apply. Please check official sources, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, before acting on anything in this article.

All of us, whether Muslims or not, need to get ready for a new lifestyle after the pandemic is over. Many of us are already thinking about this during the lockdown in Japan and around the world. Every country may try to implement a different set of these lifestyle changes. However, the Japanese government yesterday suggested some specific changes which we should implement even after the pandemic is over. The threat of a second wave of infections will persist for months, with the disease likely lingering long after the Japanese society reopens. Some of these suggested changes are as follows.

Try to wear masks in public places
Stay two meters apart form one another
Frequently wash your hands with soap
Change your clothes upon returning home
Try to work remotely if possible
Avoid using public transportation during rush hour
Try to avoid speaking while riding a bus or train
Keep a safe distance with one another while eating
Exercise at home instead of going to parks

While the above-mentioned changes are not groundbreaking, the government suggesting the necessity of a shift to a “new lifestyle” signals a change in tone. Still, all requests and measures put forth by the central and municipal governments remain strictly voluntary, with no legal punishment for individuals or businesses that flout them.