COVID-19 and our community
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/04/2020 (1143 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Since taking on the job of community correspondent, I’ve always tried to write about topics that relate to our area. I’ve been carrying a few ideas around to write about, but with what has now become so central to our daily lives, it’s difficult to write about most topics and I feel a need to share my thoughts about the pandemic that we’re all experiencing.
Some news media can sensationalize events but in this case it’s tough to downplay the facts. We’re constantly bombarded with bleak prospects, theories and rumours, and it’s hard not to become emotionally overwhelmed by it all. There’s no denying that these are worrying times, and we’re experiencing profound changes to our community.
Outside of the family, the community is the basic building block that forms the foundation of society. Events over the past month or so serve to remind us of how fragile this structure is — the rules and policies that facilitate efficient co-operation among large groups of people. Sports, music, religion — even eating — have all evolved to allow us to enjoy life together. School, jobs and money have evolved to help us do this better.
And now, for a while, those things are gone — or drastically altered — and many of us find ourselves at home with our families trying to restructure things until we get through this.
I’m really struggling with the term “social distancing.” I understand the importance of physical distancing during this period but I really hope it doesn’t further erode how we interact in the long term.
I’ve written previously how the use of technology has massively reshaped society over the past few decades. This includes more efficient modes of transportation that can take us (and our medical conditions) from one end of the world to another in less than a day, but it also includes modes of communication that don’t require us to be face to face. While I’ve expressed concerns about some of the downsides of communication technology, it’s at times like these that we can be so grateful for them.
While physically separated we can, in most cases, stay socially connected. Many workplaces and school curricula have taken advantage of communication technology to help cope with home-based life, and it provides an essential way to stay connected with family and friends — particularly those who are more vulnerable or directly impacted.
It’s likely that some of these changes will be long-term, and some possibly permanent.However, I’m confident we’ll get through this period, and I look forward to when we can get back to a place where we can enjoy each other in the same space — in churches, arenas, restaurants and community centres. I hope you and your family remain safe and healthy during this difficult time.
Nick Barnes is a community correspondent for Whyte Ridge.
Nick Barnes
Whyte Ridge community correspondent
Nick Barnes is a community correspondent for Whyte Ridge.