Social Impacts of COVID-19: Predicting the Unpredictability

Abstract

This paper aims at making an inquiry into the ongoing societal effects of the COVID-19 focusing on futuristic dimensions in the post-COVID-19 scenario while taking stock of the expected social changes in the world in general and Pakistan in particular. The main thesis of the subject matter is that the cosmic outreach and destructive nature of this menace have introduced a few extraordinary changes in our social lives. Pandemics, since time immemorial have decimated millions of lives and spread grief, gloom and tribulation all around. The occurrence frequency of pandemics has been on the rise since the last century because of increased global integration, exponential growth in population, mass urbanization, increased mobility and excessive exploitation of the environment. Major pandemics endured by humanity are; plague, smallpox, flu or influenza, cholera, tuberculosis, Ebola and few others. All of these pandemics overwhelmed populations socially and economically, hence COVID-19 being accosted globally is hinting at the evolution of the new normal. 

Keywords

• Pandemic
• plague
• online business
• distance learning
• telehealth

COVID-19'un Sosyal Etkileri: Öngörülemezliği Öngörmek

Öz

Bu makale, COVID-19 sonrası senaryoda fütüristik boyutlara odaklanarak COVID-19'un devam eden toplumsal etkilerine dair bir araştırma yapmayı ve genel olarak dünyada ve özelde Pakistan'da beklenen sosyal değişimleri değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Konunun ana tezi, bu tehdidin kozmik erişiminin ve yıkıcı doğasının, sosyal hayatlarımızda birkaç olağanüstü değişikliğe neden olduğudur. Pandemiler, hatırlanan zamandan beri milyonlarca hayatı yok etmiş ve her yere keder, kasvet ve sıkıntı yaymıştır. Pandemilerin ortaya çıkma sıklığı, artan küresel entegrasyon, nüfustaki üstel büyüme, kitlesel kentleşme, artan hareketlilik ve çevrenin aşırı sömürülmesi nedeniyle geçen yüzyıldan beri artmaktadır. İnsanlığın katlandığı başlıca pandemiler veba, çiçek hastalığı, grip, kolera, tüberküloz, ebola ve diğerleridir. Tüm bu pandemiler, toplumları sosyal ve ekonomik olarak yıkıma uğratmış, bu nedenle COVID-19'un küresel olarak ele alınması yeni normalin evrimine işaret etmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Pandemi
• veba
• çevrimiçi iş
• uzaktan eğitim
• telesağlık

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