LIFE AFTER COVID-19.
The past six to seven months have indeed been an unforgettable period in the lives of people all over the world with a lot of changes and “adaptations” taking place. At first it was the lockdown and compulsory house arrest and for most people, that brought the reality of the tiny virus straight up their faces. Then, working and studying from home (which previously must have sounded ridiculous) became the new normal because businesses, organizations and corporate bodies had to adjust their systems to allow social distancing in order to quell the spread of the disease. Even religious organizations had to look for a way of making things work from home.
But recently, with the successful production and testing of vaccines, there seems to be some hope as regards life returning back to normal. But will the normal return back to that which we knew before the advent of the pandemic? Many countries are now slowly slackening the strict restrictions previously placed on people, albeit with caution for fear of a second wave of the virus. But whether we like it or not, the pandemic has changed our lives in many ways and we may never get back the normal we knew before. Some jobs are losing their relevance and so will more jobs. Some people have even lost their jobs completely as a result of the pandemic. There’s been a crash in the economy of many countries. Nigeria in particular has felt the blow economically with the daily depreciation in value of her currency, hike in prices of things, companies downsizing and all that. What then can we do in order to fit into this new normal? Is there really some light in the gloomy picture of the aftermath of this global epidemic? Let’s take a look at some things:
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First, is the increased use of virtual methods for socializing. While social (physical) distancing was enforced, people found ways to socialize still using various online platforms. Never before in history has there been a synergic virtual congregation of people as in the past few months. We have learnt a lot of new ways of getting things done without meeting physically. Things that people felt were impossible to achieve online have been more than achieved during this period. This lifestyle is one that has come to stay and it can only get better. While this may have affected some jobs and disrupted people’s lifestyle, it has opened up new opportunities for people to express themselves and make their marks on the cyberspace. Indeed, it is a blessing in disguise that people can easily recognize and take advantage of. The increase in virtual presence of people both young and old has paved the way for more opportunities for people to create jobs for themselves and earn good income.
Another thing that I must say is that this worldwide phenomenon has put the spotlight on the healthcare system. It was more like a time for each country's healthcare sector to show their “power”. During the pandemic when international travels were banned, each country had to look inwards and better equip its healthcare system in order to survive and fight the disease. This will lead to more attention towards research and improvement of healthcare should anything of such emerge later in future. Some professions too, like ours that were hitherto not so recognized have received more attention on their importance in running an effective and smooth healthcare system.
There's a lot more that may not have been included in this write up, so feel free to tell us what changes you think would be seen post-covid and thoughts on adjustments in the comments section.
Arisoyin Opemipo
Member NIMELSSA EDITORIAL TEAM 19/20
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