Dr. Sanjay M Johri 

Apr 26, 2020

Let’s face it, albeit with a mask, that the ubiquitous
Indian ‘namaste’, social distancing, and gloves is going to be the new world
order both at work and social gatherings in the post Covid-19 world.

We need to bring usher in a radical change in everything we
do, how we work in offices, exercise in gyms, shop, educate our kids as well as
take care of family members and manage our own health in the months to come.

Whether the government announces further extension of the
nationwide lockdown beyond May 3 or starts phase-wise lifting it, depending on
the Covid situation only time will tell. However, one thing is for sure that
sooner or later when the lockdown is lifted certain precautions like the use of
face mask and social distancing are here to stay. Surely we need to upend our
way of life in some ways forever.

With practically every country trying to “flatten the
curve”: and slow down the virus spread, no one expects life to be back to
normal at least till we find a vaccine against Covid-19 in a couple of years.
“This isn’t a temporary disruption. It’s the start of a completely different
way of life”, says Dr. Soumya Swami Nathan, Chief Scientist Geneva WHO.

However, will this disruption of many businesses and
livelihoods be possible to manage? Can we really live in this new world order?
Hopefully—yes, but with awkward compromises to retain some semblance of social
life, while protecting our health.

Maybe tomorrow we will find movie theaters taking out half
their seats, meetings held in larger rooms with spaced-out chairs, gym
conducting sessions in shifts with less members among others. While public
carriers like the railways and aircrafts might also bring some changes in their
seating arrangements. The world has changed many times. Remember how security
at the airports changed after 9/11 and now this pandemic too has brought many
changes again forcing us to follow a new social order.

Business organizations will look for a new environment
keeping in mind the “Work from Home” experiment, which can certainly bring down
the cost and downsizing their employees while going for flexi working hours.
Perhaps “Stay at Home” economic model of businesses will become a reality as
remotely working brings some change in the work culture with better results.
While those already employed will have to follow new routines; for youngsters
though acquiring new skill sets with competency and efficiency will decide
their chances of employability.

Practically every country has learnt lessons and is going to
invest heavy on improving the healthcare infrastructure in order to better face
a pandemic-like situation in future. At the moment though, we will have to
change our habits and lifestyle while adapting to an uncertain future.

As usual, however, the true cost of this upheaval will be
borne by the poorest and weakest. In a country like India this is all the more
apparent with the brunt will also be borne by those living in disease-prone
areas.

The education sector will perhaps be the last in
the list of priority for the government to bring back the economy on track.
Most of the schools, colleges and universities