So… What’s Next?: The Post-COVID World
by Esaw Adhana, Reporter
World News/Public Health
Most, if not all, aspire for this lengthy pandemic to be over, but what exactly will a post-pandemic world look like? While it is impossible to know with complete certainty, many logical theories can be deduced. Here are ten key assumptions—five positives and five negatives— that will likely occur as life finally begins to “return to normal.”
- POSITIVE: Heightened Attention to Sanitation
One of the most likely long-term, positive effects of COVID will be global, heightened attention towards proper sanitation. Businesses such as restaurants, grocery stores, and gyms will likely continue through sanitation practices to ensure that patrons stay safe.
- NEGATIVE: Increased Racial Prejudice and Xenophobia
Many groups of people have experienced a significant increase in prejudice due to the pandemic. Specifically, Asian and Asian-Americans have been targeted by racism because the virus originated from Wuhan, China. Unfortunately, it appears as though this racism and brutality will not disappear after the pandemic ends and instead will continue to devastate our communities of Asian descent.
- POSITIVE: Increased Social Connectivity
Many have begun yearning for social interaction after it has been taken away from society for over a year. Many have realized they have taken each other for granted, and once society can spend time together again, many will cherish these moments with new gratitude.
- NEGATIVE: Increased Political Discord
Globally, especially in the United States, many are currently living in what the news often calls “unprecedented times.” Because no current leader has ever experienced a global pandemic before, naturally, parties would disagree about the best legislation and course of action to take to keep Americans safe. While many continue to relish in the idea that political discord will soon be over (hopefully!), many theorize that conflicting parties will argue over how the pandemic was and was not handled and continue to disagree about post-pandemic-related decisions.
- POSITIVE: New, More Inclusive Methods of Education
It is no secret that a vast amount of individuals have begun to dislike long-term distance learning through applications such as Zoom, Schoology, Google Classroom, Loom, etc. However, many agree it has created new opportunities for education. Digital learning has provided new options for the previously mundane six-period school day by offering later start times, inclusive extracurricular activities, and accessible teacher office hours. Many administrators agree that schools should not simply return to normal education without adding some key learnings from pandemic schooling. Some students truly enjoy distance learning, so new and inclusive options for these students may become available in the future.
- NEGATIVE: Increased Skepticism Against Vaccines
Many believed that a functional vaccine could not be created in twelve months, and yet, it has been done and most people agree and support its use. According to the Washington State Department of Health, over 4.6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered across our state, and this number only continues to increase. However, many continue and have begun to distrust vaccines. This may only be furthered as time continues, as opposing parties question the validity and safety of an “underdeveloped vaccine.”
- POSITIVE: Remote Working Opportunities... but Permanently
Similar to point #5, prior to the pandemic, many work environments have grown stale, and the opportunity of remote work has piqued the interest of many employers and employees. For example, Google has decided to allow many employees to choose to permanently work from home, continue to work full-time in the office, or participate in a mixed hybrid option.
- NEGATIVE: A Continued Decline in the Economy
There has been some prospect that despite COVID causing the national and global economy to dive in those fateful weeks of March 2020, the worst may not quite be over yet. Many fear a potential future depression despite COVID going away. In addition, many smaller businesses have been forced to shut down permanently due to the pandemic and will unfortunately not be reopening even after normal life returns.
- positive: Rebalance of Nature
With people inside due to the pandemic and quarantine, positive benefits are reflected in nature. With fewer people outdoors, there have been fewer cars, buses, planes, and other modes of transportation this past year. In 2020, global carbon emissions dropped by over 6%, which is a significant decline, but only if society ensures to continue this trend in the near future (Tollefson).
- negative: Recurring Virus
Finally, there is one main fear that has arisen from the past year: “What if COVID never ends?” It seems like a trivial, unlikely concern, but that is a possibility. The COVID-19 virus may continue to evolve and change, eventually becoming synonymous with the common cold, which is not ideal. Millions of deaths occur each year from influenza, encouraging many to vaccinate annually. If COVID continues to exist in our society, this would mean currently vaccinated individuals would need yearly COVID vaccinations. If many already refuse to receive their annual flu shots, how likely is it that the average American will agree to an annual COVID shot as well?
These next few months will be an adventure, but hopefully, it will all be over soon.
Stay safe everyone!
DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of Kamiak High School or The Gauntlet.
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