The Covid-19 pandemic altered our daily lives. With the risk of acquiring the virus, everyone had no choice but to stay indoors. Government officials all around the world started imposing lockdowns. But, this decision brought about many changes in society, from health to the economy and even culture.
However, it’s a known fact that governments exist for the common good. And with what’s happening at present, it seems like we still have a long way to go before we can achieve it. This is why you, as a citizen, should know what you can do to contribute to society as well.
Effects Of The Lockdown
Lockdowns seemed to be the best solution, especially during the peak of the virus. But, up until today, we see that the infection and death rates are rising. Despite the efforts to stay indoors, many individuals are still acquiring the virus. Not only that, but the different sectors in society continue to suffer as well.
Economy
When it comes to the economy, one of the most evident changes was the ceasing of some business operations. This usually applied to small establishments in local towns. At the same time, this also led to the unemployment of many individuals. It was hard for business owners to compensate for everyone in their company. With the decrease in demand, they didn’t see the need to produce as much as they did before the pandemic.
Culture
As for the cultural sector, the education system continues to face various problems. Despite the shift to online classes, many children were still affected. Of course, not everyone had access to technology. There were also parents who lost their jobs. So, the students had no choice but to halt their studies. This led to a negative impact on one’s development. At times, it even resulted in a problem with one’s mental health.
Health
And speaking of health, there was also a noticeable increase in drug use. It was usually due to unemployment issues, psychological abuse, and the like. The lack of medical care played a part in this issue as well. Most hospitals and centers focused on treating patients with the Covid-19 virus. So, there were individuals who didn’t get the help they needed.
What The Community Should Do
Embrace Differences
As individuals in a community, we shouldn’t live for ourselves alone. It’s important that we form relationships, even more so during this time of the pandemic. Diversity is evident nowadays. Whether it’s in school, at work, or anywhere else. We always come into contact with people from all walks of life. And there may be instances when we don’t agree with their beliefs. But, these differences are what we can use to create something new.
At present, it’s hard to keep up with all the changes in society. So, by building these relationships, we somehow find a way to stay strong. You’ll know that there’s always someone who’s going through the same things as you are.
Provide Mental Support
Since you probably spend most of your day indoors, you can use this as the time to reflect as well. Social interaction isn’t ideal given the circumstance. So, one way of forming and strengthening relationships is to be involved in any activity that requires your expertise and knowledge. You could also provide emotional support when you share some religious support with those of the same faith. There are websites that you can visit online that provide such support, such as CAPP-USA. These sites could provide the kind of mental strength some people need in such dire circumstances.
What The Government Can Do
It’s the government’s task to aim for the common good. And one prevalent issue until the present is the lack of preferential consideration for the poor. Equality is still hard to achieve, as well as justice. The sad reality is that the rich would always have a lot to fall back on. On the other hand, the poor have little to none. This is why the people in power need to prioritize their needs. It’s their task to help every individual work towards their goal.
Whether it’s by providing more jobs, increasing wages, or creating welfare programs. There are a lot of things that they can do to improve the well-being of the people, especially during these times.
We Need To Work As One
There are many challenges that we continue to face because of the pandemic. This is why we need to put our differences aside and focus more on building our community. Following God’s teachings is one way of achieving the common good. Along with that, the government should take more steps towards promoting equality amongst all individuals as well.