As the world marks the fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s hard to ignore the impact it has had on nearly every aspect of our lives. From the way we work to the way we interact, the pandemic has reshaped our societies in both good and bad ways.
Workplace
COVID-19 has led to the adoption of remote and hybrid workspaces. With so many people forced to stay home with little warning, businesses had to quickly adopt new working methods.
According to Gallup, 70% of remote-capable employees shifted to working exclusively from home in March 2020. Today, more than four in five of these employees have some degree of remote flexibility with 55% working hybrid, 26% working exclusively remote, and 19% working exclusively on-site.
Most employees expect to remain working from their current location long term, demonstrating the shift in the workplace from exclusively in-person to a variety of flexibility.
According to the Pew Research Center, hybrid schedules have allowed workers to balance work and personal lives but have cost worked connection with colleagues.
In addition to workplaces, the types of technology used in work environments have also shifted. Zoom and other video conference apps have become a commonality within business and personal life, which has led to more participation from workers across the nation.
Education
Education has seen countless adaptations and changes in response to COVID-19.
Melanie Potyondy, a public school psychologist in Fort Collins says that students face “a lack of resilience, a lack of that grit, that I think I saw in previous cohorts of kids prior to the pandemic.”
With over-reliance on technology, loss of school norms and etiquette, and an overall dip in education quality due to online learning, adults worry that students lack key qualities and abilities because of the lapse in proper education during the pandemic.
Teachers have also found ways to improve and personalize their instruction through new technology. According to Brookings, teachers report emphasizing small-group instruction and personalized learning to improve communication with students and save time.
In addition, because of higher reports of mental health and depression, “some districts turned to online platforms such as Class Catalyst and CloseGap that allow students to anonymously report their emotional state on daily, which helps school staff track students’ mental health,” according to Brookings.
According to Hannah Sperling, a junior at CCHS, “Everything now in schools is based online which is difficult for me because I am someone who really valued pen to paper learning.” It is clear that these changes in education have complicated responses from teachers and students.
Society and Mental Health
COVID-19 has changed many aspects of society from community involvement, to mental health, and norms on socializing. BC News reports that anxiety increased to 50 percent and depression to 44 percent by November 2020, six times higher than in 2019.
It is clear that the lack of intentions, loss of community, and extreme isolation have had major effects on the mental wellness of our society. BC News continues to say that these findings suggest “the need for increased access to mental health services and other supports to help adults face the economic, social, and psychological stressors.”
This rise in mental health awareness has also triggered major shifts in societal norms. Because of social distancing, masking, and isolation, society has seen a rise in weak social ties, resulting in a decline in trust.
According to the University of Alabama, “society seems to have swung to a place where people tend to be more dismissive and cynical — especially of information provided by public health agencies and medical experts.”
Public Health
The pandemic also highlighted the heroes that are healthcare workers and led to significant gains in public health. According to UAB, Health workers have experienced support during and after the pandemic including military flyovers, meal donations, and TV representation. Paul Goepfert, M.D., director of the Alabama Vaccine Research Clinic at UAB, says scientists are now more adept at rapidly developing vaccines.
These innovations in technology and medicine have made the world better prepared in the event that another pandemic strikes.
With the wide range of improvements and declines that the pandemic has caused in our world, it is clear that this milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on how our society, economy, and politics have evolved: for better or worse.
