Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time to start thinking about our post-pandemic lives.
Lifestyle
The past weeks have been a whirlwind when it comes to rethinking our post-pandemic existence. Recently, the CDC announced that anyone who is fully vaccinated may now safely remove their masks while they are outdoors and while they are around a small group of other fully vaccinated people. However, in a “give them an inch and they’ll take a mile” mentality, most people only heard that they are free to take their masks off while outside. PERIOD.
Now, everyone’s walking around maskless and nobody really knows who’s fully vaxxed or not.
Additionally, several states lifted various COVID restrictions over the past week, including limits on the number of people allowed inside a sit-down restaurant, bar, gym, and other public establishments. This gave the green light for movie theaters and other public gathering spots to reopen at full capacity.
In New York, Gov. Cuomo announced that Broadway theaters (which have been closed for more than a year) can begin ramping up to resume performances — which means sitting in a darkened auditorium elbow-to-elbow with strangers from all over the world.
So, what exactly is going on here? It’s the beginning of a post-pandemic era and some rather abrupt changes that we’re all going to have to quickly adjust to in the coming weeks and months.
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“Yes, it’s normal [to be nervous about socializing right now], because what we’ve just gone through is a completely abnormal situation. Like any traumatic event, which we’ve been living every day, it’s scary to step out and say, ‘Am I safe? Do I want to do this? Do I have the courage to go back to socializing?'” – Jane Webber, Kean University
For more than a year, we’ve all been conditioned to wear a mask everywhere we go, to avoid 6 feet or less proximity with other people, and to shun any sort of personal contact with anyone outside of our own household. Now, all of that is changing — and fast!
People are removing masks inside and outside with abandon. Folks are preparing to pack restaurants, bars, and gyms to full capacity. Some are buying tickets to movies and Broadway musicals. It’s a race to return to normalcy.
However, we can’t overlook the million-dollar question: is it completely safe to jump, head first, into a post-pandemic world while millions of Americans remain unvaccinated?
How will we handle going to a restaurant that’s packed with patrons laughing, talking, and coughing only inches from our own table? What will we do when we’re given the middle seat on a plane filled to capacity with maskless travelers? Are hugs and handshakes back in the mix or still a no-no?
More importantly, are officials giving the green light to begin returning to normal because it’s safe — or because we’re losing too much money and the government won’t be offering any more financial assistance??
Hmmm…
OK WASSUP! covers Lifestyle News:
Are we ready for a post-pandemic world?
They are already taking off the masks here in Chicago. Especially in the Loop and on the El train. It is the Beckys and Karens that feel privileged doing it. This is going to be a big adjustment period getting used to doing things like before.