The world was closed by the pandemic. Confinement has changed life in homes, communities, and the Planet. Many of the forced changes promise to stay according to many opinion studies done around the world. Here I summarize them in the 18 things that # Covid-19 changed and/or will change. The reflection begins.
By: ottogutierrez@ymail.com
The beginning of the 21st century seems to follow the same pattern as the previous one of plagues and recessions. Confining people in the large populated centers overnight to their homes is an incredible experience. It is hoped that in a short time, it will restore people to “normal” life after a high dose of reflection, change, and a better attitude towards the times to come. No one worries today about finding those responsible for the spread of the virus. There will be time to accuse China and the lack of security that allowed the virus to leave a laboratory in Wuhan.
For now, researchers and strategists are interested in knowing what happens in the confined world. For this, several studies are carried out in many countries to measure with surveys, polls, and virtual focus groups, what is happening in homes, in the minds of people and society, in general, to have indications of the path that people and communities of the world will take, which although it turns the same, will not be the same. Companies, academia, politics, science, and religion seek to know what will be done to adapt to the new world? Because a lot is at stake after the end of the pandemic. As in a card game, they have dealt again, and a game is about to begin. After reading many studies, I think the changes are summarized in 18 things.
1. Fragility and Vulnerability on a personal and collective level, people have felt that a virus brought the world to its knees from one day to the next. That feeling of vulnerability is shared by 9 out of 10 people in quarantine. They have felt transferred to a science fiction movie where cities are empty, people are not seen, and an invisible enemy takes lives. The images of the cities alone were made by computer for the movie, and in the actual film, they are authentic. Today, in the same proportion, people feel fragile, and that will shape the future.
2. Relationship with the Planet, the interaction with the Planet changed. 99% of people say they understand that the relationship must be different and what has influenced them most is seeing images of animals returning to claim spaces that were theirs and that the man took. Mammals on land and water, birds in parks and terraces, leave a clear message to most. Also, the decrease in pollution or pollution rates confirms that man harms living as he has lived. The new equation has been understood and will be one of the things that will change.
3. Human Insensitivity, popular beliefs say that power or money brought out the worst in people; we can say the same thing now about the pandemic. Although there is no figure to measure it, the statements of officials such as the Vice Governor of Texas have been aberrant, saying that the elderly must die or deplorable the case of people asking that in order not to affect the economy and most allow the death of the weakest for the strong to survive. We have reached this point because today, it is legal for some to decide on the right to life of others.
4. The Basics are Luxury forced confinement made it a luxury to leave the house, go to a park, meet friends, make or receive a visit, hug someone, or touch an object. 75% of respondents say they miss all this. On the other hand, those who had the privilege of a family group and did not value it today appreciate it despite the roses and difficulties. 48% say they think about who should live this alone.
5. Unprepared Leaders, regardless of the type of Government, geographic location, system of Government, or ideology, 85% consider that their officers were not prepared to handle a crisis like this. 74% believe that their leaders could have done more. Only 62% trust their federal officials and 40% in regional leaders to clarify that they have no other option.
6. The Health System managing the # Covid-19 crisis required the action of the health systems of each country. Regardless of the model, they were not prepared according to 97% of the people. 81% maintain concern about the health system, and 63% believe it will collapse. For 68%, governments must reform the health system.
7. Companies and Entrepreneurs, forced confinement puts people’s eyes on companies, entrepreneurs, and their attitude towards the crisis. 38% believe that companies could have done more than they have done. 40% believe that the banks did not measure up. 90% have already made decisions about their relationship with various companies in the future, and 71% will make decisions after the crisis about a brand reviewing how they responded in the crisis.
8. Online Work, forced by the crisis in just three weeks, companies had to turn around internally to accommodate online work, with which a new way of working was imposed on the world by the virus. 80% of companies use it today, and it is estimated that it will continue at 78% later once it is adjusted. For their part, 76% of online workers consider that companies should improve the work at home because it is very time-consuming, and they value their time lost.
9. Online Education, like online work, the crisis forced its generalization. 95% implemented it during the crisis. The demand for applications and platforms for virtual meetings grew by 40%. Although all face-to-face teachers and students were not familiar with the system, they had to adjust by force, and it is estimated that 99% of the entities could provide online instruction after the crisis.
10. Basket of Goods, the basket, and its products began to change. 45% prioritized focusing on food and cleaning supplies. Products such as perfumery and cosmetics took second place. 30% will focus on buying things they can cook at home. 42% say they will start purchasing private labels. 51% believe that the situation will be very harsh in the future, and 64% plan to control their spending on this matter.
11. Ostentation vs. Simplicity 61% have made a list of products they consider a luxury, and 21% say they will stop buying them after the crisis. 77% say they will reduce their spending on these products due to uncertainty. Sales in department stores are estimated to drop by 25%.
12. Mobil Vital for those who the cell phone was not vital the crisis achieved that transformation. Today, 99% consider the mobile phone very important. Due to social isolation, the channel of digital integration with other people became. Every day the use was for communication 53%, social networks 30%, entertainment 19%, news 14%, and education 14%, as the most popular actions. Today it is difficult to find a person who says he can live without a cell phone.
13. Mobile Applications the use of cell phones was joined by the boom in applications. 52% used them for gaming and increased their time by up to 20%. It is also reported that spending money on applications increased by 34%. Health and fitness applications were up 30%.
14. Media Consumption confinement also led people to have a 70% higher consumption of media. 61% preferred radio, 40% television, and 90% news web portals. Contradictory was that the advertising pattern did not grow with larger audiences, so the media did not improve their income. The experts forecast that everything will return to normal when the crisis ends, and television is expected to be one of the most affected if the trend is met.
15. Actions and Emotions, many describe confinement days as a roller coaster of feelings and emotions. 81% express great concern about the general situation they experience. The most concerned population group is millennials with 84%, followed by the elderly with 55%. Drug use has decreased by 49%, has remained at 28%, and increased by 23%. They are looking ahead; 73% say they will take action to avoid what is unnecessary —46% promise to exercise more and have healthier habits.
16. Digital Events, millions of people were forced to develop a digital life in confinement, and at the same time, massive events such as fairs, museums, concerts, and conferences were made available online; the future of events is expected. Digital would enter to replace the large crowds. At the closure, only 10% paid for streaming content; two weeks later, it doubled, and today it is already 25%. At the same time, millennials and Generation Z say they are willing to pay to see events. There are already antecedents like the broadcast of e-Sports for 12 continuous hours on ESPN. It is clear that a person over 55 years of age and over is not willing to see these events, but he will have to accommodate himself because the industry promises to exploit that niche since face-to-face events would be obsolete and digital events are more marketable.
17. Changes to the Status Quo, the crisis has left lessons to introduce the fundamentals of the economic, legal, and labor spheres, among others. States and companies must start preparing for new emergencies or relapses. Financially have support funds, legally introduce clauses to those of supply and labor contracts, in hiring personnel, assessing teleworking skills, and thus in all aspects. The framework for action cannot be the same if reality is different.
18. Attitude for Future people, as the essence of societies, is called to face the post-crisis differently. Today studies show that 73% fear the future, 72% feel insecure, and 64% live uncertainly. As seen in the other 17 aspects mentioned above, many things will change, and each individual’s ability to align himself to these new challenges in all fields can make him more or less unhappy. Today only 38% say that society will emerge positively restructured from this situation. 79% want better interpersonal relationships, and 85% want a better relationship with the Planet. A sociologist said that the true freedom that God gives man is to choose the attitude with which he faces things and, I believe that personal and collective recovery will depend on that. A good mood will indeed be inspired by fundamental change and solidarity with others.
These days someone reading on social networks said that he had thought of the many scientists working on hundreds of experiments to protect the human species, of the dozens of studies on the space station and in the laboratories of many entities secretly looking for cures, vaccines, or treatments for life-threatening diseases. All of these seem just a romantic but unreal story because a virus exposed the fragility of life and the inability to take care of ourselves at the moment of humanity’s most significant advance. Scientific work will only produce a vaccine in six months, and while that happens, who knows how many die and how much is lost.
Experts foresee that everything that must change in all aspects will have a very high and decisive communication component, which had the most significant development in the crisis, confinement, and survival as the only reason. To learn more about communication in post-crisis, write to me at ottogutierrez@ymail.com. Tell me about your project or need; I can surely help you.
This text is based on information from the following sources Add Colony, GFK, Market Watch, Aecoc Shopperview, App Annie, e-Consultancy, Ideas Octalab, ATS, Publicia Media, Smart me Analytics, Rubold, Warc, Morning Consult polls on social networks, Media publications like The Time, WSJ, Bloomberg, El Tiempo. The studies refer to actions measured in countries such as: China, the United States, Spain and Colombia mainly. Some information is based on other countries in Europe and Latin America.
Otto Gutierrez 