President Trump hopes that the Coronavirus will only kill 100,000 Americans before all is said and done. Our world was ill-prepared for this virus. But, the newly minted Generation C (Coronavirus), those who will not know a life without the threat of a pandemic, may live a better life because of the lessons learned by COVID-19.
Improved Prospects for Military Spouse Employment
Pandemics are not new features on the landscape of humanity. In 1918 the Spanish Flu killed roughly 2 percent of the world’s population. In the 14th century, the bubonic plague also known as the “Black Death” killed roughly 20 percent of the world and up to 60 percent of Europeans.
After the plague, there was a shortage of manual laborers. Land owners were forced to improve working conditions to lure and retain workers. The corporate church lost influence and the economy shifted, paving the way for new ideas realized during the Renaissance.
The Coronavirus has already impacted our culture. A significant portion of the world is working remotely, virtually proving that brick and mortar models are not always a recipe for success. For military spouses who have to move every two to three years, this forced hand is a huge win.
Remote work also has the potential to be game-changing for maternity leave flexibility. Why should new moms return to a physical office six weeks postpartum, when they can work remotely for a bit longer? We don’t know what life will be like post-Corona, but history shows us that it doesn’t all have to be bad.
Better Prepared for Future Pandemics
Because past wide-spread pandemics took place before the advent of technology and social media, the way we are experiencing COVID-19 is different than anything that has come before.
We have the ability to track the progress of the virus in real time and verify which techniques are working and which are not. We do not have to wait to determine if we were successful. We can see it reported daily.
Our world leaders will look back on each decision and indecision, and ask ‘what could have been done better?’ What jobs are really mission-essential? Is building a wall more important than ensuring our hospitals do not depend upon restrictive supply chains?
Supply chains are also the reason that toilet paper sheets are rationed by the square. We are not going to the bathroom more than before. This is a broken chain and leaders will look at ways to mend these kinks.
On an individual level, it is likely that new hygiene habits will be formed. We may not wait to stock up on toilet paper or sanitizing wipes. And if people didn’t take their installation’s emergency preparedness plans seriously in the past, they may now.
Your Grandma Now Has a Digital Footprint
For military families and their extended families using technology to stay connected is nothing new, but for the rest of the world, who may be used to taking a short drive to see family, technology is now required to keep families together.
And multiple generations are embracing technology together. Even the most technology-adverse Baby Boomers are being forced to download video conferencing apps for work. And their open eyes now instantly see what younger generations had been struggling to teach them for years.
According to a PEW research study only 68 percent of Baby Boomers own smart phones compared to 93 percent of Millennials. But just because they have technology doesn’t mean they like its role in their lives.
Young parents-turned-homeschoolers recognize that in order to teach and have a full-time remote job, TV is not a babysitter it is a necessity. A month ago, these very same parents judged other, weaker parents, for their reliance on screen time. However, for future generations screen time will be so integrated into their lives, worrying about a few hours here and there seems pointless.
COVID-19, like a natural disaster or past pandemic, has the ability to unite communities, nations and the world. We are together and yet apart, inventing new ways to be together, while six feet apart.