Corona virus is a massive earthquake that has set off a series of tsunami waves rippling through the world, producing massive effects and disruption.
It's going to affect all of us, very soon, in different ways. It's already affected me. I was supposed to give two workshops at a conference in NYC this weekend. The conference was rescheduled for June. Yesterday, it was learned that some students in my county had possibly had contact with a possible Corona virus patient and four schools were closed. We're just getting started. I'm throwing out some ways I see it affecting people, business, and culture. I believe that not only will it produce a future that looks different. What do you see? How has it already affected you and how do you see it changing things.
The virus is going to hit very hard, if it has not already hit:
People without healthcare or with high copays,
People without health insurance or with high co-pays will be less likely to go for testing less likely to take medication or go to see a doctor. This crisis is a clear halcyon call for medicare for all. If someone develops Corona virus and has to go in the hospital without insurance, or even with bad insurance, it could break them financially. This won't happen to people in the rest of the developed world, where everyone has health care, just in the US.
Working parents with kids in closed schools,
What do parents who depend upon their kids being in school so they can go to work? If the schools close then the parents suddenly have to either personally take care of the kids or find a solution-- and often, childcare solutions are very expensive. This could break people. And even if people can afford to put their kids into day care, the idea of putting a bunch of kids together in close contact could increase risk.
High touch places, like bookstores, retailers, dine in restaurants, bowling alleys, gyms
How do YOU feel about going to a bookstore, or any store where there are items that other people pick up and touch and maybe put back. How about putting your groceries on a conveyer belt that a thousand other people have used? This may be good for restaurants who do a lot of take-out business. But how about buffets? Do you feel like getting food from a buffet where a hundred or five hundred other people have picked at the food in the last day or two. My guess is they will put the food behind glass and hire servers.
This mightl be a bonanza to Amazon and other online sellers. But maybe not. Amazon stock closed on Friday down 17% in the past 15 days.
Small Businesses with under Ten Employees
Small businesses run lean and mean. If a key employee gets sick and has to stay away from work for a prolonged period of time it can really cause the business problems. If two or three get sick, the viability of the business is at risk. Think of a pizza place with two cooks, covering two different shifts, two front counter people and a few delivery people There's little backup. If two or three get sick, there's a real problem.
Old fashioned human connection; Human contact, including handshakes, hugs, face-to-face interaction
I've found myself starting to shake people's hands then pulling my hand back, with the other person understanding. I did shake one guy's hand and afterward I regretted it. A cousin told me she cancelled a date because the guy had a cough. I imagine this will affect singles dating, and, for that matter, everyones' decisions on what kinds of dates to go out on. It could affect family gatherings.
Conferences, and conventions, sporting events cruise ships, theme parks, airlines, bus companies, trains
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