LIFE AFTER COVID-19

Its been weeks since some of us have been in quarantine. For me as a physician, we have gone through so many changes, that the way things were seems like such a distant memory. Lately, I can’t help but wonder what will life be like after COVID-19. I can only make reference to 9/11. After that horrific ordeal, we had to start taking our shoes off at airport security check points and we couldn’t travel with liquids greater than three ounces in our carry-on. But somehow we got use to it and it became our new normal.

Sometimes I get a little teary eyed when I look back at photos welcoming in the new year. 2020 was suppose to be the best year. And before we knew it, our lives were turned upside down. Our plans and dreams for the year of perfect vision became unreachable goals.

I have so many questions. What about the students who have been out of school and university? Is homeschooling and distance learning the new norm? My husband, a high school science teacher has been taking it day by day. Clearly, he misses the daily interactions and connections he had with his students.

I have been seeing most of my patients via telehealth. I certainly believe that COVID-19 has changed the trajectory of healthcare. Although telehealth has been around for over 50 years, social distancing guidelines has now created an urgency for this platform. Somehow all the barriers to telehealth went out the window and what was previously seen as a daunting task was easily picked up, as if we knew, it was what we should have been doing all along.

What about the masks? Are they going become an unavoidable part of our life? I recently mentioned to a friend that masks will probably become an accessory to all articles of clothing purchased.

When will our new normal begin or has it started already?

COVID-19 and quarantine has definitely showed us how to slow down. I listened to one of the Governor of New York’s press conference and he spoke a great deal about how he was grateful to have his three twenty-something year old daughters at home with him . He likened it to when he was growing up and spending significant amount of time as a family with his grandparents.

So maybe the new normal won’t be so new after all. A simpler life was the way it use to be. It was a time where people were connected and communities were close knit and everyone knew each other. Experts are even tooting the benefits of planting, something our forefathers did many years ago. Apparently, the simple, stay at home life has already done wonders for the environment - clearer waters in Venice, Italy, bluer skies in China and decease smog, pollution and gas emissions in numerous cities across the world.

Maybe we will have new found respect for essential workers and those who support them as they continue to provide the necessities of life for everyone.

So many questions and some answers that only time will tell.

One thing we know for sure is that most of us are practicing better hygiene.

STAY SAFE