SMU Dean of Students and Professor of Sociology (Practice) Paulin Straughan said the "perceived seriousness" of the pandemic has made the public more cautious about keeping themselves safe. "Hand washing is one easy way of doing so, and it gives us a sense of control as we are doing something proactively to keep Covid-19 at bay," she said. However, she noted that some have continued to litter and spit despite advisories to keep public spaces clean. "So perhaps we're deciding which norms to adhere to – hand washing protects ourselves, while spitting in public places affects others," she said.