The impact of COVID-19s effect on society is felt differently everywhere. In certain poverty-stricken places in the world, thousands of graves have been filled and continue to build. For others, living with the coronavirus has become little more than a constant irritation. Globally, the economic impact is as undeniable as having to live with masks, hand sanitizer at store points, and temperature checks – there’s no going back to the way that things were.
The Coronavirus Is Just Getting Started
Despite the widespread catastrophic consequences of COVID-19 already experienced, the pandemic is barely getting started. Current science shows that the virus has evolved immensely. With a third wave threatening countries like South Africa, certain regions are still being hit hard. Even in countries where the vaccine is being distributed, populations are still far from being all safely inoculated. As the world works toward coping with the virus, it continues mutating while markets are still feeling the pinch and trying desperately to stabilize.
COVID-19 Spike Protein Mutations – It’s Getting More Infectious
Many overlook the current state of COVID-19s mutation and the effect this has on global risk. Africa has reported several new variants of the COVID-19 virus as the continent rapidly cruises towards new peaks in infection rate. As the coronavirus replicates in areas where transmission rates are high, mutation occurs, taking the coronavirus’ genetic information and forming inaccurate copies of itself with new properties. So far, COVID-19s spike protein has mutated over 4000 times. Keep in mind that this is the virus component that enables it to enter our cells, making it more spreadable than ever.
Prepare For Spiking Transmission Rates
Transmission rates for the SARS-CoV-2 virus are still high. On March 24, 2021, Worlddometer reported 591,791 new daily cases worldwide, whereas less than a month ago, on March 15, 2021, there were just 19,170 daily infections. This is not a time to grow comfortable or complacent with the coronavirus. We need to be more vigilant than ever, taking full advantage of the lessons learned during this period and the safety protocols developed and set in place. Social distancing, contactless business interactions, and heightened hygiene are all still top priorities and call for constant innovation. Personal protective equipment has room to improve, but it is each of our responsibility to do what we can to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Global Vaccination Rollouts Falling Short Of Expectations
Now that vaccines for COVID-19 are available, countries have to address the monumental task of vaccine deployment. The global rollout of vaccines is already causing frustration. The BioNTech and Pfizer partnership, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and many other manufacturers have already encountered hurdles. At-risk groups are receiving vaccines far slower than projected, with the same deployment issues being hit in vulnerable nations. Nevertheless, several vaccines are rolling out, making what was a pipe dream just a few months ago a reality today for most of the world. It is going to take years before humanity reaches herd immunity. Before this happens, we’ll all need to manage the many elements of accelerated vaccination and upping public healthcare together.
Coping Is A Global Game Of Innovation
As of August 2020, Yelp alone reported that 163,735 businesses around the U.S. had closed down. If statistics are correct, there are about 800 more shutting their doors every day. Yet, in the wake of all this destruction, a path has been cleared for innovators, new business practices, improved hiring models, and enterprise restructuring overhauls for the better. To cope, we need to change not only how we do business but also how we think about business as a whole. COVID-19 has boosted innovation within the tech space more than anyone could have realized pre-pandemic. Brick and mortar businesses, even those normally not online, have intertwined with the digital space.
Go Digital Or Go Broke
Companies have been forced to pick between extinction and welcoming digital technologies with open arms and there’s no going back. The same goes for job seekers and companies hiring. Any industry where human contact can be avoided has gone digital, which leaves pretty much nothing untouched. The medical industry is a fantastic example of how necessity has bred innovation. In order to cope, medical researchers had no choice but to pool resources towards isolating our much-needed vaccines. The coping mechanisms formed in both scientific and research advancements and the distribution networks created to dispense our solutions will inadvertently bolster the entire field and every adjacent industry.
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Helping People Help Themselves
Global authorities face the ongoing challenge of raising public health standards. Enforcing personal accountability for hygiene and health is impossible. People need to act out of their own free will, and that takes information. Raising awareness may seem like the easiest hurdle to overcome, but it is actually one of the hardest. Just because the populace hears and understands your message, this doesn’t mean they’re going to act in their own best interest. However, positive repercussions do lie on the horizon, and treatment/vaccination protocols will one day overtake the coronavirus. Lower level access to good quality healthcare has had to improve around the world in order to deal with infections. Higher health literacy also means fewer sick people overall, while the infrastructure offers lasting wellness improvements.
Dealing With Coronavirus Stress
On a day-to-day basis, coping with the coronavirus means managing stress. If allowing yourself to read, hear and think about COVID-19 incites anxiety, this will have an overlapping effect on the rest of your life. Establish personal safety protocols and determine what information you need to know to ease your mind and then actively separate yourself from all exposure to the coronavirus. Forget about checking the news, observing local statistics, and thinking about COVID-19 completely for a few hours a day. At first, it will take willpower and distraction, but once you’re familiar with the feeling of focus and freedom that comes with letting go of anxiety, you’ll be calling for more making separation easier and easier.
Create The Life You Want
Once one finds a balance that brings peace of mind and safety while staying informed, life can go on. Otherwise, finding areas to innovate and grow within your own life becomes a taxing, draining process. Practice safe social distancing, upkeep good personal hygiene protocols and follow reliable sources of information only. Fear-mongering will do nothing other than hold you in the past instead of letting you find new footing on the way to post-pandemic planet Earth. There’s never been a better time to start new habits, create new products, and build better businesses. Be the support that you need to traverse the uncertain times ahead by pouring your energy into proactivity.