Anniversaries are generally a reason for celebration. Birthdays, the start of a new relationship, and notable cultural events are among some of the anniversaries we celebrate each year (many of which involve cake, which I certainly am a fan of). But on the flip side, there are also anniversaries with more somber tones. Death anniversaries and the anniversary of tragedies are types of anniversaries that force us to pause, reflect, and take a moment to remember what was lost. But can an anniversary be both joyful and melancholy?
This past week marks two years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the nature of this anniversary is different. From one angle, I view this anniversary with dismay as it marks the start of a long period of isolation, and it brought the loss of life, separation of families, mental health issues, and a slew of other global issues. But from another perspective, the two-year anniversary of the pandemic shows how greatly we have progressed as a society since March of 2020. In this way, the second anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic shows the duality of an anniversary.
Of course, it’s easy to see the negative impacts of the pandemic. Most obviously was the dramatic loss of human life to COVID-19. Global data shows that there were nearly 450 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and six million deaths, demonstrating how the international impact of the pandemic on human life was absolutely devastating. Additionally, with initial lockdowns during 2020 many were laid off, causing economic hardship on many families. Lockdowns also contributed to detriments in the mental health of many due to a forced rapid change in lifestyle and decreased social interactions. Moreover, the pandemic ignited political divides which were extremely prevalent in the U.S., often circulating around the requirement of masks. These are just a fraction of the issues induced by the pandemic.
It’s often difficult to see the bright side of the pandemic, but there certainly are some benefits. For one, the rate at which the COVID-19 vaccine was developed was almost unheard of. Often it takes anywhere between 10 to 15 years to develop a vaccine, but the COVID vaccine was developed in under a year. Even with the short development time, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines initially showed a 90 percent effectiveness for preventing COVID-19 symptoms in earlier strains of the disease. Other than scientific developments, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed more efficient uses of technologies. According to studies done on remote work, those who work from home are 47% more productive than those who work in person. This discovery has revolutionized how companies, schools, and other organizations operate. The Stute, for example, still makes use of Zoom meetings to help accommodate our staff’s busy schedules. And through the height of lockdown, The Stute continued to operate virtually, publishing articles online and creating front page layouts.
The negative and positive generational impact of the pandemic will be prevalent for years to come. While the pandemic tested us as a community, as students, and as people, many of us have overcome adversity. With mask mandates in Hoboken coming to an end, and talks of COVID-19 ceasing in the media and our conversations, it seems that we are transitioning to a sense of normalcy for this upcoming spring and summer.
At the end of the day, it’s hard to imagine what life was like before COVID-19. While the future is still uncertain, it’s important to look back at these two years and recognize how COVID-19 has changed us, for better or for worse. This week, The Stute has written a feature on the COVID-19 pandemic to show truly how much has changed since March 2020.
Happy anniversary, COVID-19. Here’s to hoping this year is the last one.
The Stute Editorial is an Opinion column written by the current Editor in Chief of The Stute to address and explain editorial decision making, discuss news and media issues, and develop a sense of trust and transparency between readers and members of The Stute.
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