Paris: The most basic everyday activities, from work to shopping and going to school, have completely changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and may never be the same again.
As the world has passed almost two years since China announced its first death from COVID-19 to a 61-year-old man in Wuhan on January 11, 2020, here’s a look at how our lives were radically changed by the virus. has given.
– WFH – As the virus spread around the world, governments ordered billions of citizens to be forced to hastily set up home offices.
remote working, working from home (WFH) All very quickly our new pandemic became a staple in the vernacular.
Even as the lockdown is eased, working from home at least for some time remains the norm for many.
In 2021, the percentage of people working remotely increased from just 17 percent in 2019 to 32 percent, according to consulting firm Gartner.
For others, the pandemic prompted demand for changes in jobs or better conditions.
In the United States, thousands of workers from hospitals to Hollywood quit last year in a movement called “Striketober” to protest long hours and poor pay.
– E-commerce boom – With billions of homes closed, businesses of all kinds had to rapidly pivot, and online sales of everything from groceries to food, clothing, and furniture boomed.
Online sales grew 38 percent in the first third of 2021 compared to the same period a year ago, according to Adobe Digital Economy Index,
Gail Le Floch of consulting firm Kantar told AFP it brought some shoppers online for the first time, who are not likely to leave soon.
“We saw new customers, more senior citizens, who became regular buyers,” she said.
– Planes, trains and cycles – Amid border closures and travel restrictions, the tourism sector was pummeled from the pandemic.
Experts have warned that the air and rail industries may not return to normal before 2024.
Air travel was the worst hit in 2020, with worldwide traffic down by two-thirds.
By the end of 2021, it had reached only half of 2019 levels as travel restrictions were in place in many countries.
Even as travel after the initial lockdown, chaos at airports remains the norm as passengers line up to show vaccine passes or negative Covid tests.
Cities around the world also saw a decline in public transport such as trains and more people staying home as fears of the virus spread.
cycling increased In popularity but also in commuting by car.
, zoom Learning – As adults stayed home to work, so did students, millions of children and teens suddenly logged onto Zoom and other platforms for online classes.
UNESCOThe United Nations Authority for Culture and Education has described the pandemic as the worst education crisis ever.
School systems in most countries had at least some periods of complete closure.
Its worst effects have been in low- and middle-income countries, where 53 percent of children already lack schooling.
According to the World Bank, this ratio can increase to 70 percent.
Significant declines in math and reading skills have been reported in some parts of the world, including Brazil, Pakistan, India, South Africa and Mexico.
– Hunger and health care – The pandemic caused the biggest increase in hunger worldwide in 15 years, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The agency said the number of people who do not have enough to eat has increased by 18 percent from the previous year.
The problem extended beyond access to food, as an additional 20 million people fell into extreme poverty In 2021, according to the United Nations agency OCHA.
The pandemic also thrown health systems into chaos and slowed progress on campaigns to eradicate other diseases that ravage the world’s poorest populations, such as HIV and tuberculosis,
As the world has passed almost two years since China announced its first death from COVID-19 to a 61-year-old man in Wuhan on January 11, 2020, here’s a look at how our lives were radically changed by the virus. has given.
– WFH – As the virus spread around the world, governments ordered billions of citizens to be forced to hastily set up home offices.
remote working, working from home (WFH) All very quickly our new pandemic became a staple in the vernacular.
Even as the lockdown is eased, working from home at least for some time remains the norm for many.
In 2021, the percentage of people working remotely increased from just 17 percent in 2019 to 32 percent, according to consulting firm Gartner.
For others, the pandemic prompted demand for changes in jobs or better conditions.
In the United States, thousands of workers from hospitals to Hollywood quit last year in a movement called “Striketober” to protest long hours and poor pay.
– E-commerce boom – With billions of homes closed, businesses of all kinds had to rapidly pivot, and online sales of everything from groceries to food, clothing, and furniture boomed.
Online sales grew 38 percent in the first third of 2021 compared to the same period a year ago, according to Adobe Digital Economy Index,
Gail Le Floch of consulting firm Kantar told AFP it brought some shoppers online for the first time, who are not likely to leave soon.
“We saw new customers, more senior citizens, who became regular buyers,” she said.
– Planes, trains and cycles – Amid border closures and travel restrictions, the tourism sector was pummeled from the pandemic.
Experts have warned that the air and rail industries may not return to normal before 2024.
Air travel was the worst hit in 2020, with worldwide traffic down by two-thirds.
By the end of 2021, it had reached only half of 2019 levels as travel restrictions were in place in many countries.
Even as travel after the initial lockdown, chaos at airports remains the norm as passengers line up to show vaccine passes or negative Covid tests.
Cities around the world also saw a decline in public transport such as trains and more people staying home as fears of the virus spread.
cycling increased In popularity but also in commuting by car.
, zoom Learning – As adults stayed home to work, so did students, millions of children and teens suddenly logged onto Zoom and other platforms for online classes.
UNESCOThe United Nations Authority for Culture and Education has described the pandemic as the worst education crisis ever.
School systems in most countries had at least some periods of complete closure.
Its worst effects have been in low- and middle-income countries, where 53 percent of children already lack schooling.
According to the World Bank, this ratio can increase to 70 percent.
Significant declines in math and reading skills have been reported in some parts of the world, including Brazil, Pakistan, India, South Africa and Mexico.
– Hunger and health care – The pandemic caused the biggest increase in hunger worldwide in 15 years, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The agency said the number of people who do not have enough to eat has increased by 18 percent from the previous year.
The problem extended beyond access to food, as an additional 20 million people fell into extreme poverty In 2021, according to the United Nations agency OCHA.
The pandemic also thrown health systems into chaos and slowed progress on campaigns to eradicate other diseases that ravage the world’s poorest populations, such as HIV and tuberculosis,
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