When, if ever, do you think we’ll return to “normal”?

[450knotOffice]

I look around at everybody wearing their masks, everybody trying very hard to keep away from each other, restaurants and coffee shops either closed or only open for takeout, beaches and parks closed, sporting events cancelled, ALL social gatherings outlawed, airports absolutely deserted, and on and on, and I wonder...

When will these things return? When will people feel comfortable enough around each other to hug again, to take off their masks and stand close to each other and talk and laugh, and not look at everyone around them as a danger to their own lives? When will people feel truly comfortable again at crowded and bustling restaurants and bars?

How long, if ever, do you think it will take for us (as a society) to return to truly feeling safe around others again?

[KNS]

When nearly everybody is vaccinated or when herd immunity takes over. I wasn't alive then but it seems like everything eventually returned to normal after 1918-19.

[KFC911]

Never going back to the way it was...but that wasn't "normal" for many either. 'Nawlins pre-Katrina, Japan pre-Tsunami, NYC pre-911....this is just a much wider scale...but there is no return.

But we'll adapt and move forward...like always.

There will be another....

[Paul_Heery]

I just hope it has killed the bro hug

[cabmandone]

Once there's a treatment for symptoms that reduces the severity, things will go back to normal.

[DanielDudley]

I think testing would be a really good step in getting people out and moving. Not testing people is vague, and leads to doubt, confusion and fear. I think California is finding that more people have already had the virus than previously thought.

Lots of people still haven't had the virus. People around this part of NY State are wearing masks and social distancing, so they are getting around. I think the consensus here is that it is a lot more productive to follow the guidelines than to go rogue. When the powers that be feel like you are making an effort to comply with the spirit of prevention, they seem to be more willing to let you get on with things in a respectful way.

It ''seems'' like the best way to get a really severe case of this disease is to hang around in really close groups with lots of heavy breathing and close social contact. I don't think you want to draw a lot of this virus deep into your lungs. Cheap masks aren't there to protect you, they are there to protect those around you. In order for them to work, everybody needs one, and everyone needs to pay some attention to social distancing.

It sounds counter-intuitive, but following the guidelines may be the fastest way to get going again. If we abandon methods that slow the spread, there is a good chance that cases will spike again. We went from 500 cases to, 5000 cases to, 55,000 cases in three weeks in NY. Doing that again would only create a longer lock down period.

Again, testing for antibodies would be a real game changer as to how we could proceed. Imagine getting a free pass to do whatever you want, simply because you know you have immunity, not just from getting the disease, but from giving it.

There may be some things that simply work best if everyone involved participates. I'm not a big fan of the concept of having to do things twice because we didn't have the time or money to do it right the first time.

There never seems to be the time or money to do things right, but there is always enough time and money for a funeral. I think either way, this disease was going to effect the economy. In my experience, following the guidelines has already gotten me more freedom to conduct my affairs with common sense.

There is a reason and a season for everything. You can swim upstream against the current, or you can wait for the tide to take you.

[tdw28210]

It will never be the same, but normalcy will return.

[wdfifteen]

I think we'll be back to more-or-less the same after a vaccine is produced and widely distributed. Word is that will be 18 months to two years. We are breaking old habits and creating new ones and even after a vaccine is around it will take a while to change those.
Speaking for myself, when I was busy I used to rely on fast food restaurants for a quick lunch. I make lunch at home now and find I like it better than the offerings at Wendy's, Taco Bell, and McD's. I'll probably never go back to eating lunch out 3 times a week.
Life in general has slowed down, and I don't ever want to go back to the rat race.

[legion]

The best strategy would be to open everything up and let it circulate through the population. Those that are vulnerable should be isolated from the rest of us during this time. Then, after about 3 months, there will be a herd immunity and the vulnerable can re-integrate into society. This is how we have handled every other outbreak in my lifetime. Closing businesses and schools and locking people in their houses is ineffective at everything but destroying people's lives, inflicting economic suffering, and prolonging the amount of time the virus circulates. The models that predicted hospitals being overwhelmed were off by 50000%-100000%. If I produced a model that was off by more than 10%, I'd be fired from my job.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I think we'll be back to more-or-less the same after a vaccine is produced and widely distributed. Word is that will be 18 months to two years. We are breaking old habits and creating new ones and even after a vaccine is around it will take a while to change those.
Speaking for myself, when I was busy I used to rely on fast food restaurants for a quick lunch. I make lunch at home now and find I like it better than the offerings at Wendy's, Taco Bell, and McD's. I'll probably never go back to eating lunch out 3 times a week.
Life in general has slowed down, and I don't ever want to go back to the rat race.

I think we get it. you keep saying it all these threads that you are no longer a producer and are now 100% a consumer. That's why you are not concerned about the economy, you call those who need to get back to work grandma killers, etcetera etc......

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by KC911

Never going back to the way it was...but that wasn't "normal" for many either. 'Nawlins pre-Katrina, Japan pre-Tsunami, NYC pre-911....this is just a much wider scale...but there is no return.

But we'll adapt and move forward...like always.

There will be another....

This... It's 2020 and a virus one billionth of our size has brought everything to a screeching halt.

There really is only one way forward... Adapt!

[wildthing]

The new normal is nobody shakes hands or hugs outside of family.

Maybe everybody wears masks until robberies become more rampant.

Fewer people will be going to large gatherings like games or concerts.

In other words, not much of a change for me (apart from the mask-wearing.)

[vash]

one of the warmest things about visiting Italy was watching the entire place being so full of camaraderie. everyone hugging and kissing each other. a chef kissed my head when i told him his panna cotta was the best i ever had. i was trying to make up for my statement, "its good but it's not Olive Garden" to his pasta dish. (i was joking)

i think Italy may quash that activity. high fives and fist bumps.

[jyl]

Fairly quickly, by six months after the epidemic ends there will be very little difference in most persons' behavior.

https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/04/oregonians-expect-it-will-be-months-before-they-feel-safe-returning-to-normal-activities-new-survey-finds.html?

For other data, might look at Asia after SARS.

Of course, we don't know when most people will consider the epidemic as ended. My best guess, daily behavior is largely back to pre-Covid by early/mid 2021. I think overall spending levels take longer to recover

I'm not talking about changes in how we look at life and priorities, like we're discussing on the other thread. Or about changes due to technology, e.g. use of videoconferencing or home delivery. I'm talking about mundane stuff like do you shake hands and go to movies and take plane trips.

[Alfasrule]

After 3 week of isolation. We had our Cigar Night on Wednesday and we're still all healthy! Back to normal for us! Be there next Wednesday!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by rusnak

That's why you are not concerned about the economy, you call those who need to get back to work grandma killers, etcetera etc......

Of course I'm concerned about the economy. I have children and grandchildren who have to live in the world that comes out of this. Part of my income depends on the middle income economy.
I have never typed the words "grandma killers." That's BS.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by legion

If I produced a model that was off by more than 10%, I'd be fired from my job.

You have a job? From your posts it sounds like you were fired weeks ago.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Humans express themselves through touch. We are social animals but we aren't very bright. And have short memories. August, like nothing ever happened.

[Zeke]

People forget. I'd never heard of the 1918 pandemic and although I don't live in NYC and have never been there, I don't think of NYC and 9-11 in the same thought, ever. I don't even know what year the Fed building was bombed in OK, I just now there was a bombing and it was major.

And I know we are vulnerable. In many ways. What are ya gonna do, build the 2nd Great Wall?

[dafischer]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Of course I'm concerned about the economy. I have children and grandchildren who have to live in the world that comes out of this. Part of my income depends on the middle income economy.
I have never typed the words "grandma killers." That's BS.

Well,this is pretty close.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

In a hurry for your inheritance? I know, the longer they live the more of YOUR money they piss away on THEIR lives. Just smother them with a pillow if their lives are worthless to you. You’ll be farting in a new Porsche in no time.