As we all know – the whole world is currently fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, which took less than three months to spread from its origin in China to the rest of the world. With almost a million people getting infected on a global scale, we currently don’t have an antidote or vaccine to eradicate the virus. The best thing we can do at this moment is to stay at home, practice social distancing and take necessary precautions like washing our hands regularly. Looking at the seriousness of the pandemic, many governments around the world have declared nation-wide lock-downs to keep their citizens safe. The pandemic and lockdowns have had far reaching impacts on our lives and our planet. Let us examine the impacts of these lockdowns:
The lockdown is affecting people in various ways and we have categorized them in several sections.
On general people:
While governments have announced lockdowns with the noble intention of flattening the curve of total number of infections and prevent the virus from spreading exponentially, it is affecting many people – especially the poor, daily wage earners, small businesses and startups. Even though we saw the lockdown coming, many people were blindsided and left stranded, without food, water and shelter. In most countries, however, governments are helping such people by providing food, shelter and transport arrangements. On the other hand, many people are not used to staying indoors all the time. If the lockdown continues for a long period, it could take a toll on their mental health.
On the economy:
As people are confined to their homes, many industries have been remained closed due to the unavailability of manpower – which has a direct impact on the economy. Demand for non-essential products and services could go down as people struggle to pay their utility bills, loans and rents. Many experts have speculated a huge chance of a severe recession in the near future. Transportation, travel and hospitality are some of the worst-hit industries and we are likely to see its economic impact very shorty. On the other hand, FMCG companies, companies manufacturing ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE), hand-sanitizer and disinfectants are going to see a boom in business.
On the environment:
On the flip side, the planet’s environment has breathed a sigh of relief. Since there are very few vehicles on the road, planes are no longer flying and most of the industries are shut down, pollution levels have drastically gone down. Air quality data from across the globe has shown that the quality of air in regions under lockdown has improved. While this is great news, we hope that once we resume our normal lives, pollution levels don’t shoot back up.
On the tourism sector:
Many countries have sealed their borders and have asked people to stay home, which has not only affected avid travellers, but also people whose income is dependent on tourism. With an estimate of around 50 million job cuts worldwide by the World Travel and Tourism Council, the tourism industry is one of the most brutally hit sectors by the virus. We are already starting to see the impact of Coronavirus lockdown on travel bloggers and influencers, and businesses like hotels, airlines, and cruise operators. Here are some pictures of what some of the world’s most iconic places, now completely deserted, look like during this lockdown period.
