Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected the world with its suddenness and uncertainty. Although now people can be vaccinated, new coronavirus variants prevent society from fully coming back to life as it was before the pandemic. The history of the current generation would be separated into periods before the pandemic and after. Because of social distancing and self-isolation policies, everyone has had their own experience with the pandemic. Now, it is time to evaluate the changes brought by the pandemic and utilize them to make improvements in current issues to create a better society.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a humbling effect on the majority of the population and made people appreciate what they have. At a time when individuals were losing their jobs due to the economic consequences of the pandemic and their close ones due to the disease, people united to collectively solve the challenges of the pandemic. In a short period of time, a significant number of businesses and companies were able to switch to remote jobs, which resulted in new working opportunities for people who lost their jobs during the pandemic. It was encouraging to learn that society is capable of putting collective effort into solving crucial problems.
In the article on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Acuto pointed that the humbling lessons of the pandemic should “drive a lasting positive change” on the current issues in the world (318). While no specific change could force people to work as a team, the pandemic experience helped establish a foundation of relationships for future alliances and collaborations and a better society.
The pandemic hit hard on small and medium local businesses; in the early stages of the pandemic, many local businesses were forced to close because of difficulties with revenue. However, some businesses adapted to the changes and integrated new working requirements into their work during the pandemic. According to Yasin Ar, managing business in the conditions of a pandemic requires innovative solutions that meet the needs of society (166).
Some small and medium-size businesses took the opportunity to switch to an online format and expand their size with the growing demand in e-commerce. The growing trend for support of local entrepreneurship continued when big corporations and factories were experiencing a shortage of products due to the supply delays. As the change in the customer demand for local entrepreneurship continues, society would benefit from the number of sustainable businesses with high-quality services. Moreover, the change would help society handle the economic consequences of the pandemic faster and more easily.
One of the substantial issues of everyday life emphasized by the pandemic is society’s dependence on essential workers. Not only healthcare workers had to leave their homes every day during the pandemic, but also grocery and supermarket workers, people in delivery services, factory and farm workers, and staff in restaurants (“The Plight of Essential Workers During the COVID-19 pandemic” 1587). Although these people were forced to work as a part of their duties, society owes a big favor for essential workers. The government and the authorities should ensure the health and wellbeing of essential workers who worked during the pandemic and address society’s dependence on them in the future with improved work conditions.
In conclusion, this essay described the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and possible changes that could be implemented to create a better society. First, the humbling experience of the pandemic allowed people to unite and work together towards the solutions to crucial issues.
The pandemic highlighted the importance of local businesses and offered them an opportunity for development. If people continue showing support for the local small and medium businesses, society will benefit from the fast recovery from the economic consequences of the pandemic. Lastly, the pandemic emphasized that essential workers are vital for the functioning of society; thus, they should be appreciated and protected now and in the future.
Works Cited
Acuto, Michele. “COVID-19: Lessons for an Urban(izing) World.” One Earth, vol. 2, no. 4, 2020, pp. 317-319.
“The Plight of Essential Workers During the COVID-19 pandemic.” Editorial. The Lancet, 2020, p. 1587.
Yasin Ar, Anil. “Managing E-Commerce During a Pandemic: Lessons from GrubHub During COVID-19.” International Case Studies in the Management of Disasters, edited by George Babu and Qamar-ud-Din Mahar, Emerald Publishing Limited, 2020, pp. 155-167.