#Microblog Monday 297: Life After Covid-19
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I’ve entered the “what will life be like after Covid-19” stage of isolation. I’m no longer checking the daily case trackers every hour. Instead, I’m seeking out articles that break down what may happen next. What does life look like after Covid-19?
And what do we mean by “after” if we can’t eradicate it or make a vaccine that always works?
The articles aren’t always cheerful: “When the coronavirus outbreak is under control, aversion to strangers or large groups, and the threat of infection they could pose, might echo in our minds for years.”
Like so many things, we won’t know until we know. Until we live it. But that doesn’t mean that people won’t try to think through what may happen next. And that’s where I am right now; devouring articles as they pop up in my feed, trying on the thoughts like clothing, seeing how they fit.
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13 comments
I don’t think I’ll even read those articles. It’s all theoretical until we know if there will be a vaccine or anti-viral developed. I think though that some of us will hold deeper scars than others – just as some are afraid now, and others think they’re invincible. You’ve reminded me of a post on invincibility /vulnerability I’ve been thinking of writing for ages. Perhaps I should finally write it!
Just gonna roll with whatever happens, as this has been yet another example of what happens when I try to make plans…
I haven’t started reading those articles yet. I am feeling overwhelmed by the people out there who feel ready to reopen and get back to “normal” life (as if that’s possible) while I’m still too anxious to get take out for dinner. Some of that is because I live in Michigan and as you have no doubt seen, people here (a group, not the majority) have lost their freaking minds.
My family has already started talking about all the celebrations we have missed and how we will make those up and the idea just makes me feel tense. First, because they are stacking up and I feel like we are going to be “making them up” forever. Second, because no way do I feel comfortable going to someone’s house or having a group to my house. Obviously that’s not possible now, but I don’t know when I’m going to feel like it is.
It all feels so unknown and unknowable.
There are still so many unanswered questions about this virus that I know, for me personally, it’s going to be a long time before I feel comfortable with shaking hands, gathering in large groups, and the like. If I weren’t high risk for complications of the virus should I catch it, I would probably feel differently. . . for example, we had a harder-than-usual flu season in our area this winter, and it didn’t change how I lived my life because (1) I get a yearly flu shot, which helps, even if it’s not 100% effective, and (2) I’ve had the flu before and not died or been hospitalized.
Although this article is more than a week old, I like it for what stat to focus on (Fact #3). https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertpearl/2020/04/21/3-coronavirus-facts/#7204d0954721
More research: https://rt.live/
Here in Portugal we are slowly getting back to normal, today was the first day hairdressers opened again (with rules, you have to make an appointment, number of people inside is limited), some small stores are opening, and now I will star to go work 3 days a week.
And I am terrified of taking the train and the subway tomorrow. They are supposed to limit the number of passengers but still, I have been super anxious most of the day.
Truthfully, I don’t read anything about it and I only allow myself about a half hour a day of news just to stay updated. I don’t really see any benefit in the rest and potentially a lot of damage.
Like many commenters, I am steering clear of future-ish articles that may or may not come true. Too stressful. The best information I’ve seen is from this blog post (I’ve written about it): https://go.forrester.com/blogs/four-phases-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic/ It helps for me to generally know what we’re dealing with but I don’t need to worry about the ins and outs of what could happen. I veer towards anxiety anyway.
Steering clear of the what-ifs over here. I’ve been just sticking with what’s going on in my community where there’s relaxation of the quarantine but really it’s quarantine-light. And I’ve a taste of what the near future holds. I had appointments with my chiropractor who shut down for 3 weeks. It’s a process now. Wear a mask. Sign a document at every visit that I don’t have symptoms or know anyone who has symptoms or have traveled internationally. Get my temperature taken. Wash my hands after walking in the door. Try not to touch anything after washing my hands. Talk to my doctor through my cloth mask and his N95 mask…it’s a whole new world…
What’s scary is so much is unknown about long term effects, not only to the lungs but other organs. And since so many people are asymptomatic ( or have some symptoms but not fever), temp checks or other supposed “screening” (short of an actual test) don’t exactly make me feel safe.
I work in a public building which is starting to open up. I fear my employer will make me go back soon. We’ve all been ordered to get tested (finally enough tests here) but we could test negative, go back to work, then someone picks it up at the grocery store (or get it in our work building from the public), then asymptomatically pass it around…unless we are literally tested hourly I don’t see how we could ever be 100% sure.
And then there are the idiots who think 6 feet is magical, let’s open everything up…
Really not excited about sending my kids to a camp for essential workers. Especially bc they may be with children of doctors & nurses. Relying on children to wash for 20 seconds and keep distance, not touch anything, etc. I don’t see how that will possibly work, stable group of 12 means nothing if some kid brings in covid and touches all the pens/toys/etc.
I’m not quite there yet. It was expected, but I’m still sad about the closing of school buildings for the rest of the year, and worried about what it will look like in September — what IS normal now, anyway? I can’t imagine an “after” because I feel like we’re still in the thick of it. And even if things get better, I feel like we’re a bit stuck because until there’s a vaccine and treatment opening things up is likely going to cause another spike. Ugh. My school district is exploring options for September, and the conversation includes “how do we teach in masks?” to “how on earth do we enforce social distancing in a middle school hallway?” to “How do we reassure families it’s actually safe again when it might not be?”
I don’t think I’m ready for “after” yet.
I’ve read a few speculative articles (& the one Jjiraffe recommends is quite good), but yes, we won’t really know until we get there, so I’m not spending a whole lot of time fretting about the future. The present is challenging enough as it is, lol.