When Covid-19 hit the world, four years ago, people assumed it would wash over like the flu. However, this pandemic lingered around and changed the world right under their feet. This pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, brought with it a now-familiar list of symptoms: fever, relentless fatigue, a persistent cough, and the peculiar loss of smell and taste. But the impact of COVID-19 stretched far beyond those who became sick, casting a long shadow over the everyday routines and even the very ways people connect.
When the pandemic hit, many jobs were uprooted and if they didn’t lose their jobs, people were sent home to work remotely. While remote work felt like a temporary fix then, it has now become a regular ordeal for many businesses. Surprisingly, this shift has often provided greater productivity, offering employees the comfort of their own space, free from the constant demands of in-person interaction. Yet, the economic toll that occurred to businesses was difficult to come back from. As the “United States Census Bureau” reported, a staggering “45.3 percent of companies with employees” felt the pinch in their payroll Through these tough times, many small businesses, with little to no employees, were shut down or had to postpone shipping orders due to the fact, they couldn’t get anything into the U.S. for supplies and they couldn’t in person communicate with their customers.
The technology aspect of COVID-19 grew substantially when people were sent to the confinements of their homes. Since people could not venture outside and visit with others without the fear of contracting the disease, they joined the various social media options. TikTok’s users had grown to “689,174,209” people by July 2020, which was a drastic change from the “26,739,143” people in July 2019, as cited from “CNBC” after an interview with TikTok. Along with it, screen time drastically increased by 76% among the 16-24 age range. This is why the rage of TikTok and being able to communicate with others all around the world became so popular. Since communication with others was so limited, people were able to share opinions, converse, and just have fun together on the app.
For the children during the pandemic, school was also much of a worry. School for children abruptly halted in-person learning or forced a rapid transition to online classrooms. Due to this shortened school year, many younger children were put behind in their education which has affected them further in their schooling. Consequently, many children experienced significant learning gaps, falling behind in foundational knowledge crucial for future academic success. The children that were affected by it, fell behind in classes since they couldn’t gain the much-needed knowledge to be successful.
Beyond the physical and economic tolls, many people contracted bad mental health problems due to self-isolation and loneliness. The fear of infection and illnesses also caused advanced stress and anxiety, along with job loss and all the financial hardship many middle- and lower-class families had to endure. Many were also grieving because of the loss of loved ones from the deadly plague. Since all that was happening in the world, mental health awareness grew in importance and became a headliner for people to understand the struggles and how to get help. For instance, Mental Health phone lines became available to give those suffering an ear to hear and help if needed.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed, not only our healthcare, but also our society, leaving behind many employment shifts, technological breakthroughs, educational setbacks, and a heightened awareness of mental well-being. Although the pandemic brought significant hardship, it, nonetheless, reshaped society in lasting ways, often leading to positive changes.