The harsh reality of our situation is that things may never go back to “normal.” Whether or not everyone accepts that fact is still up for debate. Many seem to pride themselves on their ignorance about the coronavirus outbreak, continuing life as if nothing has change. But things have changed. So drastically, that we might not return to normal for years to come. Our healthcare system, economy, social interactions, education, and politics to name a few will be greatly impacted as we attempt to internalize the virus, and dig ourselves out of the hole it has created.

Possibly the most profound adjustments will be made in the healthcare system. As people infected with the virus fill up hospital beds and take precious ventilators, others struggling with less emergent medical issues are pushed to the sidelines. This may be how it is for a while. In the short term future, many doctors are not seeing patients unless their issue is urgent. However, “urgent” is considered life threatening, and many people who need medical care may not be considered urgent. Surgeries are pushed off until further notice, impacting the quality of life of many people who may not “need” the surgery to live. But as we look towards the long term impact of the virus, we will see a shift towards telemedicine. Ezekiel J. Emanuel is chair of the department of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania, and is certain that although telemedicine has lingered on the sidelines of healthcare in recent years, remote office visits could skyrocket in popularity as traditional-care settings are possibly putting more individuals at risk (“Coronavirus Will Change the World”, 2020). This shift would also free up room in hospitals and allow those who need it most to seek care more efficiently. IT professionals have been working on expanding the abilities of this life saving tool since the outbreak took off on March 13th. In two weeks, they were able to transform the system and implement secure networks for thousands of workers in a short amount of time (Bau, 2020). With an emphasis on cybersecurity, these professionals have helped to change how our healthcare system runs. We will undoubtedly rely on their work even as we move out of the hardest stages of social isolation.

As we shut down non-essential businesses and force hundreds of thousands of citizens out of work, our economy’s wellbeing takes a severe plunge. As our economy continues to be devastated, we fall into a deep recession that may take years to escape. Some private-equity companies plan to buy out desirable businesses weakened by the pandemic. This leads to quick consolidation of capital, with fewer companies controlling the economy. In turn, workers and consumers will likely get the short end of the stick (Mull, 2020). The depth, length, and regional dispersion of economic impact is largely unknown, and this uncertainty makes it difficult for governments to know how to intervene to help our economy stabilize (Weller, 2020). We see businesses pulling back, unsure of how long the crisis may be. Families cut their spending, unsure of how their incomes may be impacted by further job cuts (Weller, 2020). So it seems clear that for a while to come, until we know the true extent of the impacts of the virus, our government will be unable to help us in the most meaningful way. The vicious cycle this virus has created in the economy is only exacerbated by its unpredictable nature.

Works Cited

“Coronavirus Will Change the World Permanently. Here’s How.” POLITICO, http://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/19/coronavirus-effect-economy-life-society-analysis-covid-135579.

Mull, Story by Amanda. “Generation C Has Nowhere to Turn.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 22 Apr. 2020, http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/04/how-coronavirus-will-change-young-peoples-lives/609862/.

“COVID-19: How the Coronavirus Crisis Will Change the Care Model.” Healthcare IT News, 8 Apr. 2020, http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/europe/covid-19-how-coronavirus-crisis-will-change-care-model.

Weller, Christian. “What We Know About The Economic Impact Of The Coronavirus And How That Should Guide Policy.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 19 Mar. 2020, http://www.forbes.com/sites/christianweller/2020/03/19/what-we-know-about-the-economic-impact-of-the-coronavirus-and-how-that-should-guide-policy/#3147582375f4