Learning How to Live with COVID-19 Among Us

When this pandemic first came into the spotlight, no one could have anticipated the change that it will have on our day-to-day lives. Another shocker for the population of our planet happened when it was apparent that this is not an epidemic that will last for several weeks and then just vanish like the majority of epidemics in the past several years. As it seems, COVID-19 might, sadly, stick around for a while and if the rumours of a second wave are true, this sad situation might very well be the “new normal”. Here’s how we can learn to live with this new set of rules and guidelines.

A stronger sense of community

The first thing you need to understand is the function of the mask that the majority of people are forced to wear. The most common misconception is the idea that the mask is supposed to stop the virus particles from infecting you. In reality, a mask is a wind barrier that is supposed to reduce the distance that a virus from your body can be propelled towards others. In other words, you’re not wearing the mask for your own protection, you’re wearing it to protect others . In turn, they’re offering the same kind of protection to you, as well. This might just end up with a stronger universal sense of community all across the globe.

A shift in the entertainment industry

The entertainment industry was forced to reinvent itself if it wanted to survive. Streaming platforms are bigger than they ever were, seeing as how people have more free time to consume more content. The biggest problem here lies in the fact making new content is quite hard (for studios that are determined to follow rules imposed by the WHO). Public events and large gatherings are either advised against or outright prohibited (depending on the country) which made event organizers quite puzzled about how to proceed. Some scheduled sporting events are being hosted without the audience and are completely streaming or PPV oriented.

Different priorities

Such a massive change can shift the mindset of the people around you. For instance, people have developed different priorities regarding things that they never before paid much attention to. For instance, nowadays, masks are a sought out commodity but just a couple of months back, the majority of the populace was almost unaware of their existence. The mask quality standards have changed as well. You see, people who really worry about their health prefer to place orders with trusted suppliers like AMD MED rather than buy masks from local pharmacies and convenience stores. Overall, health has become a much greater priority.

Financial repercussions

At this point, a global recession seems imminent, which makes people adopt a different kind of view on life and priorities. The most important thing here is the fact that a lot of people are getting laid off from work and the fact that the job market is in an unstable place. The rental industry is under a lot of scrutiny, as well, and the world is just outright uncertain what to think about it all. You see, while these landlords can’t operate in deficit for long, there are some who just couldn’t wait to jump on the opportunities to start with the eviction. As far as consumerism and diminished average purchasing power parity is concerned, we’ll have to wait and see.

The rise of online jobs

Even though the majority of the business world seems to be on a downward spiral, there’s an increase in the number of online jobs and business opportunities to take into consideration. Since people were unable or reluctant to go to shopping stores in person, they turned to the most suitable alternative, which was e-commerce. Telecommuters, who worked remotely as part-time, either shifted completely to this method or figured out that the majority of their income, nowadays, comes from their online activities. Even when the epidemic is done for, it’s still questionable whether the majority of workplaces or enterprises will even want to return to the old way of things. 

Cashless payments

The trend of cashless payments has been on the rise for a while now, however, during the epidemic, it just makes more sense. Sure, hard surfaces may not be the primary way the virus is getting transferred but why risk it with unnecessary direct contact, in the first place. Bills and coins are covered in germs that you can avoid by just going cashless. Even cards are not ideal (they still, often, exchange hands), which is why it might be for the best if you were to take into consideration mobile payments. This option can truly revolutionize the payment industry once and for all. Not only is it safer and healthier but it’s also quite convenient. Now, it may just accelerate the pace at which it grows in popularity.

In conclusion

Regardless of how soon this situation ends, it’s unclear whether the world it leaves behind will ever be the same. Some practices and trends may stick around (for various reasons). Also, both individuals and societies evolve under the influence of extreme experiences and this pandemic definitely classifies as one. Therefore, the pre-COVID-19 world may already be dead and gone, even in the best-case scenario, where the pandemic doesn’t stick around for much longer. Fortunately, the ability to improvise, adapt and overcome obstacles, as well as adjust to the new set of circumstances is one of humanity’s best traits.