Today the president is holding a conference call with governors to discuss opening the country on or before May 1. How can that be? Much of the country has yet to experience the peak of the pandemic. You know a statistical number when we have passed the impact of the coronavirus.
So in the background I hear governors from several states saying “this isn’t over, not even close.” Certainly not what the president is saying. The Iowa governor who has popularized the term “metrics” won’t even issue a “stay at home” order when Region #6 hit her magical number of 10. Nope she makes it sound like her order is tougher but it’s just a rewording of her original order. I’m of the opinion her position won’t change until someone she’s close to is infected.
Governors, mayors and other elected officials have challenged the idea of reopening before we have a slowing of the infections and nothing will be normal until we have a vaccine for COVID-19 (and no Rush Limbaugh the 19 isn’t for the 19th flu).
American business may never be the same. If the work at home concept proves successful think how cost effective it will be. No need for thousands of offices or buildings, parking lots, etc. Principal has been moving toward the idea with it’s common work areas where staff no longer have offices or cubicles but open areas to plug into when they come to the office.
Retail, restaurant and bar will find it more difficult. Yes, online shopping is becoming ever more popular, ordering groceries online with home delivery has found success. (Reminds me of my mom calling Uncle George, at Mengrone Grocery, ordering her weekly list of items and having him deliver them).
Will you be comfortable going to the mall and shopping like before March 15, 2020? Are you confident the retailer is keeping things sanitized so you don’t become exposed to the virus unexpectedly? Under current “social distancing” bars and restaurants would have to change all seating options. If they are successful with that are we confident our servers aren’t carriers? What about those preparing our selections? So many things we just didn’t consider before.
Education is learning what it means to learn from home. Most K-12 school systems weren’t prepared for this even though they’ve discussed it for years. K-12 students need the interaction and socialization as they develop academically and socially. Online learning lacks a way for that to happen successfully. As we know funding education is the problem, it’s a money thing not and idea shortage. Oh and consider the teachers - educated to help children learn and advance. Not that mom and dad can't help with the learning process but think about those parents that weren't involved in their kids education at all before this. This can't be a path for success.
Colleges and universities have played with the idea of online learning for years. Students have been taking online courses for most of the 21st century. Hell I even taught online courses from 2002-2016. It’s a hard way to learn but it does allow another option of getting an education. Much has changed from the courses I taught and with the option of online face to face contact college life too will change in the future.
What changes will we make as a result of this experience? Bet we have a better stock of toilet paper, hand soap, hand sanitizer, and household cleaning supplies. Guessing we’ll consider our grocery shopping and what the new stock levels will be.
Think how much more often you are washing your hands. How often you clean your cell phone, keyboards, your desk and countertops. Who remembers sanitizing your home and car door handles, the car steering wheel, switches, and shifter knobs? Not me.
Oh and don’t forget handling cash and using an ATM not knowing who handled the cash or used the keypad last. Bet many of us will activate our ApplePay apps so we don’t have to enter our PIN at the register.
Yes, the president can say he will open the country “sooner than later” but will he be able to return us to normal?
I think not…..
04.16.2020
Comments