Stay Out of the Blast Radius: Influence of Surgical Masks on Virtual Pedestrian Interactions

Abstract

\n To combat the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, a series of mitigation strategies have been proposed by governments around the world. While responses varied across different governing bodies, recommendations such as social distancing and the use of facial masks were nearly universal. Considering that even with restrictions in place, walking in community environments remained an important component of everyday life, these public health recommendations, as well as the anxiety generated by the pandemic, are likely to have influenced pedestrian interactions. In this study, we have examined the effect of facial masks and anxiety related to community ambulation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using virtual reality, obstacle circumvention strategies in response to approaching pedestrians with and without facial masks were measured in a sample of 11 healthy young individuals. Additionally, a questionnaire was developed and used to gain insights into the participant s behaviours during and after a strict period of restrictions that were in effect before the summer of 2020. Results showed that participants maintained a larger obstacle clearance when virtual pedestrians wore a facial mask. The extent of obstacle clearance was also positively associated with anxiety towards community ambulation in the context of the pandemic. Our findings provide evidence that mask-wearing results in an increase in physical distancing during pedestrian interactions, which may help to reduce the risk of infection. Furthermore, results demonstrate the effects of social context and psychological status on pedestrian interactions and highlight the potential of virtual reality simulations to study locomotion in natural community settings.