The Pandemic Became the Reboot Many Didn’t Know They Needed
With California fully reopening its economy this week after more than a year of COVID-19 restrictions, many find themselves emerging from the pandemic refreshed and with a newfound sense of purpose and appreciation for life.
Effective at 12:01 am on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, the state of California finally lifted its COVID-19 restrictions after more than a year of intermittent lockdowns, economic regulations, and social distancing limitations. Driven by – as of this writing – 56.2% of the state’s population fully vaccinated with another 10.6% partially vaccinated and lower COVID-19-positive case rates, California’s four-tier, color-coded Blueprint for a Safer Economy was put away and finally allowed Californians to emerge from the clutches of the pandemic and embrace their new reality.
With restrictions on the economy and public gatherings lifted – albeit with minor distinctions still in place – Californians have finally realized a goal that seemed unattainable during the throes of the pandemic just one year ago. Even though many states had already fully reopened, some abruptly and without any discernable criteria to do so, the most populous state in the country did so responsibly, much to the ire of many of its residents.
California’s COVID-19 response was a mostly concerted struggle. At times contradictory and far from perfect, California’s management of the pandemic was only exacerbated by the frustrations of residents wracked with pandemic fatigue. The first state to issue a statewide lockdown deserves a generous pat on the back for its efforts to mitigate the pandemic through mass vaccination campaigns that have resulted in some of the lowest transmission rates in the country.
Although the U.S. is turning the tide on COVID-19, the virus is still very much a problem in the rest of the world. But, at least in our hemisphere, things seem to be getting better. Straddled by vast oceans and bordering friendly allies, the U.S. is uniquely situated by its geographic isolation from a pandemic currently ravaging other parts of the world.
Despite the success at wrangling the pandemic in the U.S., and on the same day California lifted its pandemic restrictions, the U.S. marked a morbid milestone as the country surpassed 600,000 deaths due to COVID-19. The UK variant, dubbed the Alpha variant, made its way to the U.S. earlier in the year. By May, the Alpha variant became the dominant strain and represented 70% of new cases in the U.S. A new, more virulent strain from India known as the Delta strain, which represented 2.5% of COVID-19 cases in May, is now predicted to represent 10% of cases in the U.S. by mid-June and is expected to become the dominant worldwide strain.
We’re not out of the woods yet when it comes to COVID-19. Vaccination is key to defeating the virus. And even though many are wary about getting any type of COVID-19 vaccine due to personal trepidations, the public doing their part to get fully vaccinated is of high importance if the U.S. and the rest of the world are to reach any measure of herd immunity. But despite the drawn-out battle against COVID-19, the pandemic has been a blessing in disguise for many.
It might sound grossly indifferent to say or even ponder such a statement given the inherent tragedy of the pandemic, but for a lot of people, the pandemic granted the sincerest moment of self-reflection in their lives.
Millions were told to stay home in indefinite and maddening lockdowns. Isolated from the world, with no job and no income, without any reprieve from the onslaught of monthly bills, and no end in sight to the pandemic, many were forced to confront the frailty and uncertainty of life in ways that they never had to. In doing so, many cast the restraints off their unfulfilled lives and decided to take control of their destinies by charting a different course wholly mapped out by their newfound desires.
From Nick Camacho finally realizing his long-held dream of being the chef in his own kitchen, Mariela Sandoval taking the lack of job opportunity and starting her own business, and Judcody Limon realizing he could have his cake and eat it too by embracing his lifelong passions and making a career out of them, these were but some of the many examples of the lives altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. If it wasn’t for the pandemic, these three individuals – along with many more the world over – would most likely be languishing away in the same spot they were at before the pandemic, with little to no hope for escape.
Much more than a resetting of occupational and career goals, the pandemic allowed many to slow down and embrace the neglected nuances of a fast-paced life. The pandemic and its personal impacts caused mental health to be pushed to the brink. Many, however, triumphed by indulging in conscientious activities that made life more appreciable.
A newfound sense of appreciation made many grateful for the subtle touches of life they once took for granted. From hugs and kisses, spending time with friends and family, and simply being out and about, the pandemic made us aware of the delicacies of a fortunate life spared from the grips of an indiscriminatory virus. A silver lining, the pandemic was the reboot many of us didn’t know we needed.
Baseball, the cultural pastime that has always been an endearing staple of Americana during good times and bad, peacetime and war, had finally returned in all its glory to Los Angeles on June 15th. There was a sentimental longing at Dodger Stadium from baseball fans. For the first time in 19 months, the stadium was allowed to fill its capacity. In a festive atmosphere resembling opening day, an estimated 52,000 fans – the largest gathering at a sporting event in the U.S. since the onset of the pandemic – came out to celebrate a random Dodger game nearly three months into the baseball season. This wasn’t so much a celebration of the Dodgers or of baseball as it was a desire for the return to a semblance of the normalcy of pre-pandemic life.
What a difference a year can make. From hopelessness to endless hope. From no vaccine to multiple vaccines. From no end in sight to the pandemic to a fully reopened economy and an end to social restrictions. California, along with the rest of the United States, has turned the page on the pandemic. When the COVID-19 pandemic finally retreats into the annals of history, many will look back at this time and remember it as a time of deep reflection and, hopefully, rebirth.
With an influx of consumer spending from accumulated frugalness and stimulus payments, Americans have just begun to embrace the pleasures of life that COVID-19 abruptly took away. As a result, the summer of 2021 is looking to be a bacchanalian celebration of life.
We must not lose the human connection. We need to see, feel, and be around each other. Here’s hoping the solitary habits of this past pandemic year haven’t made us comfortable with the seclusion of home life and the entrapments of the conveniences of technology.
It’s time to go out. The world is a big, beautiful place. The best place to start new adventures is your own backyard. By experiencing the many overlooked and underappreciated offerings of your locale, meeting new people, and going to places you have never been to before is something everyone should do. So wherever you are, go forth.
Just like how most Californians made a concerted effort to save lives, we must also make a concerted effort to preserve life. The war against COVID-19 is not over, but the tide has greatly shifted in our favor allowing for greater flexibility in waging this ongoing war. Defeating COVID-19 once and for all is not a sprint but a marathon.
There can be no peace treaty with the virus; the only acceptable outcome is an unapologetic declaration of victory against the pandemic. We can do this – together. Be vigilant. Be responsible. Be appreciative of life.
If you’re vaccinated, thank you for being a part of the solution. And if you’re not vaccinated, please consider doing so, or at least wear a mask out of respect for others who are in the same boat as you until herd immunity is reached.
We’re all in this together.
