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The New Reality

Updated: Oct 26, 2020

By Tetiana Kolodii



We live in a world that has a lot to offer. Every day new inventions are developed in the areas of education, business, medicine etc. It looks like we have progressed to an elite level and are able to live peaceful and comfortable lives. Probably everyone had felt safe up until a few weeks ago when an outbreak of a frightening virus, also known as COVID-19 or “2019 novel coronavirus”, stormed around the globe and changed our lives.


There is a lot of information about where the virus has come from and how it has spread. At this point, it has become so serious that it feels like the entire world has stopped. Even people who did not believe in the gravity of the situation have accepted the fact that the problem is real and needs immediate intervention.


Unfortunately, people are used to all the commodities, top-class services, and technologies. We have become so complacent with our lives that we turned out to be totally unprepared for plague, global warming, natural disasters, or wars. Of course, no one wants these to happen, but it does not mean they will never happen. We are collectively guilty of what is going on in the world.



To prevent the virus from spreading, the authorities of most countries decided to quarantine people and asked them to practice social distancing. A lot of businesses have closed. As a result of these actions, a large number of people either lost their jobs or are furloughed for an indefinite period of time.


The Government has passed the stimulus bill in an attempt to help out those in need, but a lot of these people may not receive the check or if they do, it can get them by only for a short period of time. Most of these people will not be able to find jobs and return to normal life quickly. It should have been a good thing, but the number of infected and dead keeps going up. Regrettably, no one knows when things will get better. COVID-19 has definitely impacted everyone in a negative way.


Another adverse effect caused by the virus is panic. When people found out they may have to stay home for about two weeks, they started shopping feverishly by clearing out all grocery stores. A lot of items have become unavailable. Things like hand sanitizers, paper towels, toilet paper, canned and frozen goods are elusive. It is frantically shocking how overcrowded the stores were. It is not surprising to see people cursing at each other, or even fighting over lacking items. People have been buying an excessive amount of products that would normally last them for a few months.


But what about those who cannot afford to buy that much? What about those who have children? What about homeless people on the streets? The masks have been ripped off and the true faces revealed. This pandemic revealed how inhumane people can be.

All the above mentioned things appear to be hair-raising and sound like a made-up story. You would think it does not get worse, but it does. Certain employees are forced to work in life-threatening conditions. There is a tremendous shortage of medical supplies such as gloves, masks, and gowns.


According to this CNN article, the scarcity of equipment is at a critical stage, where medical workers are being asked do something that weeks ago would have brought reprimand or even termination: reuse supplies (Kuznia). All medical staff has to be protected and properly equipped as they are the ones who we run to when something is wrong with our health. They are very essential right now and we need to do everything possible to keep them safe and healthy. Luckily, there are people who are willing to sew masks for frontline doctors and nurses. But why do we rely on volunteers when there are companies that could produce a bigger amount of the equipment for a shorter period of time? Although, it is a big issue, it is a result of poor governing. Idleness and indifference have its consequences.


The whole situation feels like a déjà vu. It reminds one of the play “Mother Courage and Her Children” by Bertolt Brecht, a German playwright and poet, in which Mother Courage lives off of war supporting herself and her children. The woman was making a living on other peoples’ misery. For Mother Courage, war was better than peaceful times. The play was written in 1941, but the problems described in it are still very valid in 2020. In the modern world you would think it cannot happen, but money is made on the most essential things.


The times we live in are absolutely devastating and uncertain. No one has expected the virus outbreak and no one was prepared. The list of consequences due to the COVID-19 pandemic can go on. All people will have to pay a price despite their social status, income or importance. We are all in this together and we should stop behaving like animals. It is necessary to remain calm and show the best qualities. It does not matter who we are and where we come from, we should always be humane.


Work Cited

Kuznia, Robert, et al. “Health Care Workers Describe Grim Reality.” CNN, Cable News Network, 27 Mar. 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/03/23/us/coronavirus-healthcare-supply-shortage-workers-at-risk-invs/index.html


NCC student Tatiana Kolodii wrote this essay for a "Cause and Effect" assignment in her English 101 class.

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