How Will COVID-19 Be Viewed By Future Generations?

How will future generations remember the Covid-19 pandemic? Perspective is everything and through the lens of history, events can often be portrayed out of proportion or in incorrect context. 

An important factor to consider when understanding how the pandemic will be viewed is acknowledging some of the movements that have developed as corollaries since early 2020. Global advocacy of recently developed vaccines and even federal mandates on both masking and vaccination have very little precedent in modern history and will be a defining factor for public health crises in the future. A largely grassroots-based movement advocating for individual liberties and choices, such as the choice to take a newly developed vaccine or optionally wear a mask has given new meaning to the terms “personal rights and freedoms.” 

Many generations have often been guilty of being shortsighted, but we must not fall into this trap. Largely differing narratives from all sides of the political spectrum will surely lead to confusion when the story of the pandemic is told. We must fight against dangerous precedents that have been set and should recognize where both leaders and the general public got it wrong at different points throughout the pandemic. If nothing else, we should convey three conclusions from the pandemic to future generations.

Trust but verify. We should be good natured and willing to trust higher authorities when it comes to matters such as new and potentially deadly diseases, but it would also benefit to take a look around at our surroundings to recognize the direct impact our decisions make on our lives. The misinformation and contradictory nature of this pandemic have led to serious distrust of establishment health authorities and future citizens should be slow to come to conclusions about life changing decisions like stay at home orders.

In reference to the lockdowns seen at the beginning of the pandemic and even still in certain places of the world, future generations of all nations should never forget the global gridlock in the last 2 years. Never in history have so many countries closed their borders and seen such a decline in country-to-country interactions. From tourism to industry trade, future generations must think about the global impact of an entire world that self-isolates. 

Finally, future generations should focus on the good that occurred from a global pandemic, the science and technology that has made rapid development when the world truly went virtual for months. Study of how these fields rapidly developed will be critical for future generations but the important takeaway is to always remember that hard times should always breed growth and development—not of fear and confusion. 

Our message to the future generations of the world should not be a fearful one but a hopeful example of how difficulty and adversity led to strength and growth not only in global industries but in the lives’ of everyday people.