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In America, the handshake is a ubiquitous greeting.

It’s used to say hello, to introduce yourself to someone new or to signal a potential employer that you’re trustworthy, confident, and the right person for the job.

But in a world where the deadly COVID-19 remains a constant threat, is the handshake safe?

When the pandemic first began, the handshake was widely advised against by public health officials in Canada.

Although restrictions are beginning to lift across the country, people are still being asked to maintain a physical distance of two metres (or six feet) between themselves and others, making handshakes impossible.

From a public health perspective, Colin Furness at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health believes this should’ve happened years ago.

“Hands are a vehicle for spreading infection,” Furness said. “I sneeze in my hand, I then touch a doorknob, you touch the doorknob and then you touch your face, and boom — the infection has spread, even if we’ve never met.”

The handshake will inevitably become less popular as people attempt to protect themselves from COVID-19, and the process of unlearning the handshake will be uncomfortable.

“It’s going to be awkward … and everybody’s going to have to grapple with it,” said career expert Fiona Bryan.

Bryan warns employees to prepare for a period of uncomfortable moments as people get accustomed to the new normal.

“Do we really need to shake hands? No,” Furness said.

Finding an adequate substitution may take a while, but the COVID-19 pandemic will likely signal a massive shift in our culture — and Furness is relieved.

“I think not shaking hands would be just such a big step for saving lives and ending untold suffering in the future,” Furness said. (globalnews)