Elevator etiquette in the age of COVID-19

It’s becoming an increasingly ambiguous scenario: the elevator door opens and someone is already inside.

Do you go in, or do you wait for the next one? Public health officials have been urging Canadians to maintain social distance and avoid high-traffic areas since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic weeks ago. But for those living in large cities across the country — especially those in apartment buildings or condo clusters — that can be easier said than done.

“The risk is high in those spaces simply because of the population density,” said Kevin Coombs, an infectious disease researcher and professor of medical microbiology at the University of Manitoba. “At the same time though, it’s a bit of a double-edged sword — if you have a large cluster of people, and none of them are infected, well then there’s nothing to be transmitted.

“The danger of course, is that we don’t know who is and who isn’t infected because not everyone is getting tested. So it’s always best to be cautious.”

Many residential buildings across the country have been implementing more safety measures since the outbreak was classified a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11.

Chief among those steps has been the closure of shared amenity spaces such as gyms, libraries and party rooms. But some buildings have also put into effect a passenger limit in elevators — usually two to four people.

How do you enforce that, though?

“One of course runs into some of the practical applications of (limiting passengers),” Coombs said. “If you get into an elevator, what are you going to do if someone else wants to come in, say no? Nobody else can get into that elevator?

“I mean, it does raise some intriguing questions and I’m not sure I have the answer to that.”

Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease expert based out of Toronto General Hospital, says people need to use common sense when navigating hightraffic areas like condo lobbies, elevators and shared laundry rooms.

And while guidelines and passenger limits are great to see, he agreed it’s difficult to make sure everyone abides.

“It’s impossible to micromanage every situation, right? But of course, we’re not aiming for perfection here,” Bogoch said. “We just have to be really, really good most of the time because there are going to be situations that we’re just not going to be able to avoid.”