COVID-19 AS CAUSATIVE TO NEW-NORMAL LIFESTYLE: IMPLICATION FOR COUNSELLING

Abstract

Human society is dynamic with abundant changes and innovations. The effects of COVID-19 panic have caused a massive change to man’s daily lives, changes that often happened rapidly and abruptly. Behavioural science theory identifies several attributes of individuals and their surroundings that are causally related to behavior towards guiding practitioners in the selection of psychological, behavioural, social and environmental targets for invention. The adaptive and protective behavior change in response to public health emergencies is emphasized by the World Health Organization (WHO), who provide risk communications guidelines designed to encourage individuals, families, communities to act and protect themselves. This paper examined response of people to precautionary instructions to the infectious disease – coronavirus ravaging the world. It also discussed how COVID-19 pandemic has reordered people’s lifestyles and stakeholders’ responses. The study concluded that a cooperative effort of both the health-sector practitioners, media and counselling professionals is germane during and after the emergency period. Among others, the study recommended that social re-engineering of man should be sporadically done via electronic media, religious centres and schools. Furthermore, the government should provide funds for researchers and social agents for reorientation and development of “new-normal” lifestyles; towards effort at containing the deadly disease.