COVID-19, city centre streetscapes, and public health signage

Abstract

In this paper, we reflect on the changes to cityscapes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We focus specifically on the relationships between COVID-19 communication, which took place via advertisements and messages located in urban spaces, and contemporary neoliberal politics. Particular attention is given to on-street official government public health communications and their visual impacts and wider socio-economic implications, exemplified through the lens of Belfast, Northern Ireland. We reflect on, first the transitions from pre-pandemic to pandemic streetscape signage and messages, secondly ephemerality in streetscapes under COVID-19 conditions, thirdly the rapidity of change in COVID-19 related public health signage and messages and finally structural constraints of COVID-19 related public health signage. This messaging has also made visible government responses to the pandemic and revealed official (re)emergent concerns (or lack of) for people's health and well-being.

Technology-facilitated abuse within the context of intimate partner violence: Barriers to and recommendations for safety planning

“…These impacts of digital technological tools were highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic (Brookfield et al, 2024) as the implementation of lockdown measures increased the coercive control element of abusive relationships and the opportunities for TFA (Pentaraki & Speake, 2020;Barter & Koulu, 2021;Women's Aid, 2022a, 2022bPentaraki, 2023;Speake & Pentaraki, 2023;Kim & Royle, 2024).…”

“…All of the instances of TFA discussed above involve the exploitation of digital technology to harass, monitor and harm survivors and to pose increased risks to the safety of survivors. These risks need to be effectively assessed during safety planning in order to increase survivors' safety, especially during rapidly changing conditions and extreme events such as COVID-19 which pose additional challenges (Pentaraki & Speake, 2020;Tsang, 2021;Speake & Pentaraki, 2023). However, to date, there has been little academic research on these risks and their assessment during safety planning (Lopez-Neira et al, 2019).…”

Pandemics and the built environment: A human–building interaction typology

“…Quarantining and physical distancing continues to be a popular strategy in the COVID-19 era (Ferreira et al 2021;Piguillem & Shi 2022). In addition to Perspex screens and floor stickers, temporary responses include signage that encourages people to maintain a 2 m distance, as well as special hospital areas and home quarantining recommendations and requirements (Speake & Pentaraki 2022). Distancing involving working from home and video conferencing has rapidly emerged as a normal mode of human interaction (Maragakis 2020).…”

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Retail in City Centres

“…Government-imposed rules, especially during lockdowns that were implemented in many countries in 2020 and 2021, forced people to stay in their homes apart from essential activities such as shopping or work. Moreover, many people perceived city centres as virus contagion hot spots [17]. Cities around the world have seen vast numbers of empty shops, and some stores in city centres have struggled to survive in once vibrant and lively areas.…”