Life After the Virus: A Vision of the New Normal
The United States has taken the lead in terms of coronavirus cases since word of the virus in the United States came out in early January. Since then, the closure of schools and businesses has left thousands of people out of work and students out of the classroom. The virus has brought devastation to nearly every corner of the world, with nearly 5 million cases globally, and the death toll over 300,000. The United States makes up nearly 1.5 million of the total global cases, with the most cases being reported in New York state. With talks of gradual easing of restrictions, many people have come to wonder what life will look like once we do reopen and how soon we can expect the country to recover from this disastrous disease.
Experts report that we will likely be forced to adapt to a ‘new normal’ once stay-at-home orders are lifted, but the public has been left to question what exactly this new normal will entail. For starters, social distancing guidelines will likely remain in place until long after the number of coronavirus cases and deaths begin to decline. Unfortunately, this will not be all, as a small change such as social distancing is not nearly enough to prevent the possible re-spread of the virus. According to an article on life after the virus by the Vox, masks are likely to become normal additions to everyday wardrobes once lockdown restrictions are lifted. However, opposition to state and local guidelines to wearing masks poses a problem, especially in the West, where numerous states have been forced to enact “anti-mask laws throughout history as a means of quelling protest and stifling dissent” (Vox).
Growing pressure to reopen does not help the situation, as the lockdown continues to strain an already battered economy. According to an article by The Conversation, “Lockdown is placing pressure on the global economy. We face a serious recession. This pressure has led some world leaders to call for an easing of lockdown measures”. The desire to reopen has proved so strong that the public has begun an uproar for the repeal of social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders, with some even calling for an immediate end to the lockdown. On Thursday, May 7th, hundreds of protestors, some bearing assault rifles, crowded outside of the state capitol building in Lansing, Michigan’s capital, demanding an end to stay-at-home orders. The protestors even tried entering the floor of the legislative chamber, insisting that they be let in. The protest was in response to the Democratic governor’s request to expand her emergency powers to deal with the virus. The protests in Michigan are the not first of their kind, as anti-lockdown protestors have made quite the name for themselves all over social media, some even going as far as saying that the virus in itself is nothing more than a ‘hoax’ that is infringing upon their rights as American citizens.
From an economic standpoint, the coronavirus has and will continue to have negative impacts on all levels of society. “The US consumer confidence index has already dropped 30 percent since February. Millions of newly unemployed workers and small businesses already can’t or aren’t paying their rent or mortgage” (Vox). In addition, it is predicted that nearly 75% of independently owned restaurants and businesses will not survive following the pandemic.
Societal norms such as handshakes and hugging will also take a blow, as the coronavirus has already led people to think twice before engaging in any physical contact. Growing concerns about contracting the virus have contributed to an increased awareness in regards to the spread of germs, as people have become more inclined to wash their hands frequently and refrain from touching public objects such as railings, elevator buttons, and ATM machines. Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has supported the idea that we should all avoid shaking hands permanently. The contagious nature of the virus has made simple physical contact that we take for granted completely off limits.
While nothing is definite at the moment, talks of using plastic dividers to separate students in the classrooms and employees in the workplace have become popular points of discussion recently. However, there is little certainty regarding how exactly social distancing will be enforced once people return to school and work if that happens any time soon. Life as we knew it before the coronavirus outbreak will become a distant memory for us all, as the dangers posed by the virus are simply too great for a quick return to normal social interactions. For now, it is critical that we adhere to social distancing guidelines to stop the spread of the virus and keep ourselves and those close to us safe.
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