Social Distancing

In the last few months, the world has entered a historical public health crisis due to the spread of the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) around the world. Quarantines from Wuhan, China to Lombardy, Italy have attempted to slow the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Universities across the globe have made the decision to convert their entire curriculums to an online pedagogical modality, potentially forever changing the face of higher education. Schools that cannot be conducted online are being closed for two weeks or more. Seniors are being advised to leave their homes as little as possible to to limit their in-person social interactions with others. Medical professions are recommending the elimination of all non-essential travel both domestic and international while the Trump administration has barred all European and Chinese nationals from entry into the United States.

But what does all of this mean for us as a people? What does this mean for us as a planet? Will we distance ourselves from one another and fear others from different places as a personal threat? Will we loose our empathy and feeling for one another? Will we look at each other with suspicion and fear? Or will this bring us together to look out for one another and make sure that no one is left behind in their time of need? Will this lead us to address public health crises and realize that what affects our neighbor also affects us? Will it lead to more kindness and concern?

Only time will tell….