Will Covid19 (Corona Virus) Change Us Forever? by Local Coach & Journalist Mike Tenalio

 

When I was asked to be a contributing writer for The Genesee Sun and Lake Country Echo, I considered many topics but decided to write about what has been on our minds for nearly a year.

For better or for worse, Covid19 has changed us. Our behaviors have been altered. In much the same way as the world saw enhanced travel security remain after 911, we now look at what may become embedded in society after Covid19.

• We have added vernacular including – herd immunity, mRNA, socially distant, quarantine, Zoom, Zoom-bombing, COVID-bubble, Quarantini, and many more.
• We now elbow bump and greet ‘virtually’ from six feet. Will we continue to avoid greeting people with a handshake or a hug?
• We used to put-a-name-to-a-face. Now we put a name-to-a-mask and eyes. Are masks here to stay?
• It’s a good thing to wash our hands often, but will we keep hand sanitizers in our cars, purses, pockets, golf bags, etc.?
• Teaching used to be in person, and when it snowed a lot, we got a snow day. Will online teaching eliminate snow days? Will schools continue to stream sports because we can’t allow fans?
• With restaurants at 20% to 30%, and dine-in at 6 feet distancing, will they continue limited menus, take out, curbside service? Will Ruth’s Chris put in a drive through window?
• e-Commerce has been here awhile but has accelerated in the past year. Corporate supply chains have been disrupted, in part, by high demand for consumer electronics, home computing, high end TV’s. Will streaming such as Netflix continue to replace Regal Theaters?

We can go on-and-on with this including unused airline middle seats, temperature checks at public events, UBER eats delivery, Walmart and Wegmans curbside pickup, visiting our grandchildren by Zoom, Remote workers…

But here is what I know Golf is back. And right now, I need to keep the sidewalk shoveled so Amazon can drop off packages.

Lastly, I will leave you with I am glad to see the return of live sports so I don’t have to take sports photos from the living room TV and can now take them at a live event.