man wearing disposable face maskIt is now very common to see everyone in public places wearing a facemask, as a precaution against spreading the novel coronavirus.  The use of face masks is recognized as having a substantial impact on flattening the curve in dealing with the pandemic.  At InstantCard, we encourage everyone to use personal protective gear to help us all get through this period of widespread health uncertainty as quickly as possible.

However, as most everyone is now aware, it is actually somewhat disconcerting to see someone with half their face covered up by a mask.  Ever since we were born, we react instinctively to people’s faces.  So seeing only eyes but no nose or mouth, not seeing a full face, is unconsciously very unsettling.  We may not even be able to recognize someone we’ve met before, whereas when we see his or her full face their identity is immediately evident.

During these troubled times, ID badges can be of even greater benefit.  A professional photo employee ID badge becomes an added method of reassuring someone of our identity, even if we are wearing a face mask.  If for example a home health care worker knocks at a patient’s door wearing a mask, it is quite likely that the sick person might want further confirmation before letting him or her in.  A photo ID is an excellent way of putting the patient at ease concerning the identity of the caregiver.

When walking around in an office building when everyone is wearing a mask, it is even more difficult to verify who is who.  For many years It has been common in large hospitals for all staff members to be required to wear a badge around their neck, so that others can see who they are, what their name is, and what their role is.  During this period of Covid-19, we are seeing more and more companies following this excellent example, and requiring their employees to visibly wear their ID card so that others are re-assured of their right to be on premises.

Likewise, we have seen a significant increase in the demand for photo ID cards from clients whose employees must drive to various places for their job.  For example, maintenance engineers who maintain equipment like elevators or telecoms equipment need to be able to easily justify their professional role.  When they are wearing a facemask, as requested by the authorities, they need even more to be able to prove their identity.  The easiest way of doing this is by using an ID badge clearly showing their photo and name, and of course the company they work for.

We expect that it will become more and more common to see people in all walks of life wearing their ID badge on a lanyard around their neck, as a complement to their personal protective gear.  Most specialists are predicting that this period of quarantine and social distancing will not end abruptly.  They forecast that we will be required to take protective measures for quite some time to come.  And that a new set of social norms will become standard practice to reduce the spread of transmissible diseases.

We believe that it will become very common in our “new” society to check who we are dealing with by glancing at their photo ID before deciding exactly how to interact.  As our society evolves to handle the consequences of the coronavirus long-term, new patterns and expectations will need to emerge which allow strangers to quickly establish trust and confidence.  Photo ID cards will be playing an increasingly important role in our day to day lives, as various degrees of social distancing continue to be practiced in the months and years to come.