Post-COVID-19 world will create a new normal for everyone
/Post-COVID-19 world will create a new normal for everyone
By Robert Foreman
As many states are beginning the process of easing lockdown restrictions, people are clamoring to return to life before COVID-19. However, the odds are slim that things will be exactly as they were. For starters, we are still in the middle of the pandemic. No vaccine has been found and the number of deaths in America is quickly approaching 100,000, as of this writing. So, ‘normal’ is likely something we won’t see for a long time. Even as some states are relaxing their restrictions, new cases are occurring. As a result, we will likely still see many people continue to practice social distancing and wearing face masks for the foreseeable future.
The long-term impact of COVID-19 on both the economy and the American people is unknown. Some businesses will never recover from the pandemic while other businesses adapted by having employees work remotely. Everyone hated the restrictions yet many of us complied and adapted. Meanwhile, there were other people who ignored the restrictions and complained about being ‘oppressed’ because they couldn’t get a haircut. If not being able to go to the barbershop, hair salon or restaurant is somebody’s idea of being ‘oppressed’ then they don’t understand the meaning of the word.
The lockdown restrictions have been a major inconvenience, but they were designed for public safety. Even now as some people begin to flock back to the parks, beaches, malls, bars, etc., the threat of COVID-19 still hangs in the air. For those who have been able to adjust to the social distancing and wearing face masks, continuing to do so will not be a major issue. However, for those people who believe that they have been inconvenienced long enough they will take no precautions. In fact, this pandemic has shown both the grace and ugliness of human nature.
We have seen first responders, doctors and ordinary citizens put themselves at risks to help those who have suffered from COVID-19. Additionally, we have seen teachers adapt to virtual learning to ensure that elementary, high school and college students are able to continue receiving their education. Some businesses adapted to provide meals and PPE for first responders and ordinary citizens. However, we have also seen people give in to their worst instincts during this pandemic. People selfishly hoarding supplies like toilet paper, hand sanitizer and other needed items because they didn’t want to go without. Retail workers have been harassed, in some cases killed, just for asking people to wear face masks in the store. Incredibly, we’ve had to witness medical professionals, who have been on the frontline of the virus, dealing with protesters attempting to block hospitals because they firmly believe COVID-19 is a hoax.
At the end of the day, we have all had to adapt to the massive upheaval that COVID-19 has brought into our lives. Hell, we all want to go back to what we considered our normal lives. However, we have to be prepared for the fact that normal as we knew it will never return. As mentioned earlier, no vaccine has been found and there is always the possibility of a massive number of new cases emerging as stay-at-home orders are lifted. But, be that as it may, we cannot live our lives in fear. We have to continue to adjust and take the necessary precautions to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.
If that means that we must continue to practice social distancing, using hand sanitizer and wearing face masks for the foreseeable future then so be it. Yet, what we cannot do is turn this pandemic into an excuse to give into our worst natures or divide us a country. Regardless of our race, gender, religion, job title or political beliefs we are all dealing with the same circumstances. COVID-19 can, and has, killed indiscriminately. Many of us have had friends, or relatives, who have won their battle with the virus. However, many people have lost loved ones and were unable to say a final farewell due to medical restrictions.
This pandemic has uprooted our society in ways that none of us could have ever imagined. Our politicians and media outlets feed us different information about the virus on a regular basis, so it is hard to know what to believe anymore. As a result, we have to weigh the information that we are getting along with our own common sense. Yet, as we slowly begin to put the pieces back together we should recognize that a new normal is on hand for all of us. How that new normal manifests itself has yet to been seen. However, we can only hope that this new normal is one that brings us closer together as a nation instead of one that continues to divide us even further.
