2020 began like a hurricane of global and overwhelming dimensions. The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic “contaminated” all countries in an unprecedented way and forced people to isolate themselves in their homes and face new habits and forms of social and professional interaction. Thousands of businesses, shops, and restaurants closed their doors, and millions of workers are now unemployed.
In Brazil, much of the media elevated the disease to the status of an apocalypse, turning their news reports into something very close to a funeral announcement, unpleasant to watch. Unfortunately, they politicized the disease, and many governors and mayors are being investigated for embezzlement and fraud committed with federal resources released to save lives and prevent the bankruptcy of businesses and hunger among families.
The current moment is tense. But what will tomorrow be like? What will become of us after the pandemic? What will happen to our finances and the economy? Will people take to the streets as they did before the pandemic?
For sure, nothing will be as it was before, and we will have a world very different from the one we knew just a few months ago. People have realized that our well-being depends on collective action. Each person is a fundamental piece for the survival of all. And for this reason, the use of face masks will be the new normal, even after the disease is under control, whether through therapies and medications or vaccines. We will have new hygiene habits, with the use of hand sanitizer and frequent handwashing.
E-commerce or online shopping will definitively cease to be a mere shopping alternative. Physical stores will be rethought and may transform into mere brand experimentation spaces, like showrooms. Sales are likely to migrate to the online universe. Traditional commerce is expected to shrink unless effective communication and marketing efforts are made. Communication may be the differentiator between the store that will survive, whether on the street or in the mall, and the one that will migrate to e-commerce or even cease to exist.
Many restaurants, snack bars, and cafes will experience a radical reduction in customers, who will stop consuming on-site and choose to do so at home. These establishments will have to reduce table space or adopt the example that came from Europe, using greenhouse-shaped booths for a few people. Self-service restaurants will need to reinvent themselves to avoid closing. The trend is that customers will no longer handle food on the shelves. The food area should be isolated by glass or acrylic, and only one employee, properly protected, will place it on the customer’s plate, under their guidance.
One of the segments that grew the most during the pandemic was online education. I myself took advantage of the confinement period to enhance my knowledge in digital marketing and graphic design. This sector is expected to grow exponentially, as many people will be hesitant to share a classroom space with 30 or 50 people.
The pandemic made it clear that globalism will be replaced by protectionism. The pandemic showed the world that China holds the majority of supplies, including for the production of medications and vaccines. Countries will seek more autonomy in essential products, as some believe that a new pandemic will not take long to emerge.
The tourism sector is another that will need to reinvent itself. There will be a significant reduction in business travel, which should be replaced by videoconferences. For a long time, leisure travel will be within Brazil, and people will seek more rural areas, nature, away from crowded places. Shared bicycle and scooter companies will suffer because people will be more hesitant to share units with those they do not know and do not know if they have any illness. Physical tours may be replaced by virtual tours of tourist cities, monuments, and museums. Nightclubs, cinemas, and theaters will struggle, and large shows may be replaced by live streams, which grew significantly during the pandemic.
The sports world is also unlikely to be the same. There will probably be hesitation among people to attend football stadiums and gyms. Gyms are expected to suffer greatly after the pandemic, as people will opt for outdoor activities, away from confined environments and equipment that may be contaminated.
In the professional world, the trend is that people will do more remote work, videoconferences, and telecommuting. They will seek more qualifications, especially in online courses, and invest in new areas and technologies. People will likely be more aware of measures taken by governments, expectations for certain segments, and new trends. They will be more prepared to follow significant changes in short periods.
Possibly, people will plan more for the organization of their money when the pandemic is over. They will reassess expenses, cut costs, and only buy essentials, preferring cash payments, setting spending limits, and negotiating debts.
The important thing, in light of so many changes on the horizon, is that we will have to learn to live in a “new normal.” Life will be different; no one knows exactly how, but we must be open and prepared to adapt quickly to whatever comes our way. And surely, people will divide history into “Before Covid-19” and “After Covid-19.”
FÁBIO PAIVA
Journalist & Graphic Designer
fabito.df@gmail.com