8 Things I Will Miss About the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pandemic

Regardless of what are your thoughts and beliefs pertaining to the reactions and response to the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pandemic, one thing that virtually everyone can agree upon is that this will be one of the biggest events in the history of human beings on our planet.

8 Things I Will Miss About the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pandemic

Before citing what I actually will miss about the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pandemic, the latest update is that at the time this article was written, at least 193,825 people — or slightly greater than 6.89 percent — have died of the minimum of 2,810,325 confirmed cases worldwide, according to this situation dashboard from the World Health Organization pertaining to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

I am a believer that one death — whether caused by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus or other source — is one death too many, so the fact that almost 200,000 people have died is indeed unfortunate; and I truly miss being able to travel around the world…

…but I am also a believer that there are disadvantages with everything that is good; and there are advantages with everything that is bad — and the executive order for businesses within the state of Georgia had me thinking about the eventual end of the pandemic and what I would actually miss.

1. No Traffic Jams

Interstate 49 highway — Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Whenever I have had to drive during the order of staying in place at home, I eventually realized that I did not have to be concerned about timing — such as when rush hour begins and ends so that I do not spend more time getting to or from where I needed to go.

In addition to rush hour, the times when schools and church begin and end can also cause vehicular traffic mayhem within the vicinity — sometimes to the point of gridlock, where no one is able to move for an extended period of time. A similar effect can occur around stadiums and arenas for major sporting events and concerts.

2. Cleaner Air

Ana Te Pora Easter Island — Photograph ©2019 by Brian Cohen.

“Even before the coronavirus, air pollution killed seven million people a year”, according to this article written for National Geographic by Beth Gardiner — but numerous reports by the media indicate that lockdowns implemented around the world as a result of attempting to contain the pandemic have led to cleaner air in such places as Los Angeles, London, and even India.

I have noticed how much cleaner the air seems to be on the many miles of walks which I have taken during the order to stay in place in the jurisdiction where I am based — and walking is thankfully encouraged under that order. The sun seems to shine brighter, the air seems to smell cleaner, and I can see further away than usual.

3. Shorter Queues

Lisbon Airport — Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

I cannot stand waiting in line for something and always attempt to avoid that whenever possible — but I noticed that queues have been shorter overall at such places as restaurants, supermarkets, and automobile mechanic service facilities.

What a savings of time I have experienced by not waiting in line at establishments as long as during the days prior to the pandemic.

4. Lower Prices

Megabus Love’s truck stop — Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

Restaurants have been offering sales on the food they sell, since most of them have not been allowed to have patrons dining in them — such as this offer from LongHorn Steakhouse about which I wrote.

Another example is the price for a gallon of gasoline, which has been as low as 75 cents per gallon — a price which has not been seen in the United States in decades. The last article which I wrote highlighted where you can get gasoline as low as 89 cents per gallon — and some fuel stations in the United States are still offering gasoline at or approximately that price.

5. More Quality Time

I often thought that many people in society needed to take a break from the endless, self-defeating, or pointless pursuit pertaining to employment and social opportunities. I know that I have been spending more time in natural settings, as I always enjoy being outdoors in the woods or near a stream.

6. Distancing Ourselves From Each Other

I may not like the term social distancing — but that does not mean I eschew the concept. As I wrote in this article pertaining to 5 Reasons Why I Have Not Changed Anything Despite 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pandemic:

Unless I am in a gregarious mood — which is not typical for me — I arguably pretty much invented the practice of avoiding other people whenever possible; so the recommendation of distancing myself at least six feet from other people requires no change on my part.

I am hoping that we can maintain our minimum safe distances from each other long after the pandemic will have officially concluded…

…but the truth is that spreading seven billion people apart around the world with little to no new real estate on our planet — combined with an increasing population — may prove to be more difficult than some of us might think…

7. Everyone Properly Washing Hands Thoroughly and Regularly

Wash hands — Photograph ©2016 by Brian Cohen.

Although washing hands thoroughly and properly seems to be en vogue as a result of attempting to keep oneself protected against contracting the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, I sadly believe that a significant number of people will become lackadaisical about maintaining this regimen after the pandemic has been official declared at an end…

…but I do believe that a substantial number of people will have been in the habit of properly washing their hands on a regular basis by that time as well.

8. More Sanitary Facilities

Window Washer Shanghai Pudong Airport — Photograph ©2014 by Brian Cohen.

Peace of mind — even if fleeting — is one thing which comes to mind with the facilities, equipment, and furnishings of companies being thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized when patronizing them.

Hassle-Free Airlines On the Decline as Alternatives to Flying as a Passenger on Commercial Airlines

The one question I have is why did companies not implement the techniques to sanitize and disinfect their operations prior to the pandemic — even though many infectious diseases existed prior to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus?

While some of the cleaning procedures seem to be a little excessive, I am hoping that they stay long after the pandemic is officially considered ended.

Summary

Other than the obvious death toll which has been caused by the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic, other things which have been associated with it will not be missed by me — such as companies which use the pandemic in advertising for the sole purpose of attempting to increase revenue and profits.

My greatest hope is that we all learn some valuable lessons from the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic to improve society overall in honor and remembrance of those who have lost their lives. If we successfully do so, their deaths will not have been all for naught.

This article is the latest in a series pertaining to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus — which is also known as COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV or SARS-CoV-2 or HCoV-19 or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 — pandemic in an effort to get the facts out with information derived from reliable sources…

…as well as attempt to maintain a reasoned and sensible ongoing discussion towards how to resolve this pandemic.

Other articles at The Gate which pertain to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus include:

8 Things I Will Miss About the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pandemic

8 Things I Will Miss About the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pandemic

1. No Traffic Jams

2. Cleaner Air

3. Shorter Queues

4. Lower Prices

5. More Quality Time

6. Distancing Ourselves From Each Other

7. Everyone Properly Washing Hands Thoroughly and Regularly

8. More Sanitary Facilities

Summary

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