NEW YORK CITY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Effects of the Covid-19 pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought significant changes in my life, both positively and negatively. On the positive, the pandemic has enabled me to understand that education can not only be upheld in a classroom. In this case, virtual education systems can also become upheld, as evident via Zoom and Google classroom apps. The approach has also broken the boredom evident in class through the interaction with online education platforms. Besides, my computing and information technology skills have also improved following the onset of digital teaching platforms. I have also realized that online learning platforms are interactive despite being upheld by our homes’ comfort.
The pandemic has also taught me that life can get enjoyed more straightforwardly. Before Covid-19, I used to believe that social gatherings were best and fully interactive. For instance, all the weddings I attended had many people, and the events appeared quite colorful. The pandemic has been a revelation that multitudes do not matter as longs as one discovers the points of interest. As a result, activities such as football, weddings, and church services can still be upheld online. I have also enjoyed my parents’ company because they worked from home, an element that I missed before the pandemic following their busy schedule.
Negatively, the virus has limited our freedom of movement. I enjoy visiting friends and families in different countries, but the virus terminated transportation, an aspect that has restricted my movement. Besides, staying indoors is also, at times, dull, as similar routines get upheld daily. Covid-19 pandemic has also reduced trading activities, an element that I believed has partially crippled my parents’ business. Embracing the regulatory measures has not been easy because I was not used to masks. I believed they were only meant for medical practitioners. Currently, I have to spend most hours of the day with my mask on, and at times I feel it even suffocates me.
NYC during the covid-19 pandemic
The changes implemented by the New York City administration have helped in reducing the infections. For instance, as a rule, everyone has to wear masks because the disease is airborne. Despite the discomfort with masks, the one-on-one transmission has reduced, hoping to flatten the disease curve. The use of hand sanitizers and fumigation of public places have also assisted in sterilizing surfaces, an aspect that reduces transmission. Sanitizers have also helped in maintaining cleanliness. Initially, people touched exteriors in malls, buses, or streets without minding who had been who had contact with them. Currently, everyone is conscious of their health and won’t touch any surface that is not sanitized.
In NYC, the rules on social gatherings have also been fundamental in containing the virus. Aspects such as social distancing have minimized human contact, thereby regulating transmission rates. A different approach taken by the state is the physical closure of schools. The element has been replaced by virtual learning whereby education gets upheld. As a result, the interaction among learners became reduced, thus easing the management of the virus.
Restrictions on social gatherings regarding numbers, such as weddings, have also helped manage the pandemic while minimizing costs. One area that NYC should improve on is the provision of stipend to the citizens. During the pandemic, individuals lost jobs and other sources of income. It would be better if the state allocated additional funds to citizens and minimized surplus costs to improve living standards.