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In several European countries, the worst phase of the pandemic is over. But while for the society go back to pre-COVID normality will take a long time, across Europe lockdown measures are being lifted gradually. In Germany, businesses have started to gradually open up but with caution, with Chancellor Angela Merkel stating that in case of a surge, ''emergency brake' would be applied. Meanwhile, across the English Channel, in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced new rules about social gatherings and operation of businesses in a bid to keep the pandemic contained.

As the pandemic spread around the world has been upturning people’s lives, it also changed the way that people do things. Shopping habits are yet another example of a routine that has changed in a big way. We’ve taken a close look at how these practices have changed in the Middle East, focusing on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt.

From wearing masks and washing our hands more carefully than ever to working from home COVID, has changed our behaviour in dramatic and measurable ways. The virus has also had a versatile impact on consumer behaviour, with large swathes of the world’s population changing their well-worn habits within a few short weeks. Following on from our previous pieces about work-life post lockdown and how the pandemic has affected attitudes towards health, we have taken a deep dive into the altered shopping habits of people living in Sub-Saharan Africa and globally.

Globally 34% of people claim to be shopping online more than they did before the pandemic. Sub Saharan Africa hasn’t followed this trend to the same degree with only 16% of South Africans and 27% of Nigerians shopping online more than before. However, this does not mean that people in these countries are unafraid of the virus. Rather people appear to be buying in bulk and visiting physical stores less often than they did before, complementing this shopping with online buying. Only 15% of worldwide respondents say they have not altered their shopping habits. Nigeria (14%) mirrors this but a greater number of South Africans (21%) have not changed the way they shop. Of the three Sub-Saharan countries in question, the last amount of Kenyans (10%) have not changed the way they shop.

Finding ourselves in the middle of a global pandemic has been a shock. We’ve spent a lot of time fine-tuning ways in which we can prevent ourselves from catching the virus. COVID-19 has prompted many of us to examine our health, with 63% of people around the world reporting that coronavirus has encouraged them to seriously consider their levels of health and fitness. We’ve taken a closer look at global changes with regard to general health, hygiene and fitness, with a special focus on Nigeria and South Africa.

Worldwide nearly two-thirds of people claim to be taking their personal health and fitness habits more seriously since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. We have taken a closer look at how people living in the Middle East have altered their routines, with a focus on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

A recent study conducted by Borderless Access about the impact of COVID-19 on future healthcare consultation scenario, including pre-travel healthcare consultation, found that patient behaviour and habits were significantly varied from country to country. This highlighted the notable influence of culture and social and economic realities on behaviour related to personal health.

In a recent online study conducted by Borderless Access about changing healthcare consultation scenario, including pre-travel healthcare consultation due to COVID-19, we found that patient behaviour and habits were significantly varied between respondents in the UK and Germany. This highlighted the notable influence ‘culture’ has on behaviour related to personal health.

COVID-19 has played havoc on people’s working lives around the world. We have taken a closer look at how the pandemic has affected people working in the Middle East, specifically in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt.