Post-pandemic normal

 There is no doubt that the Wuhan virus or coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) has generated an unprecedented impact in most countries of the world. The virus has left no country on earth (213 in total), unaffected spreading  and infecting  more than 3 crore people, and causing  around 10 lakh deaths. This virus is spreading exponentially region wise. Countries are banning gatherings of people to the spread and break the exponential curve. Many countries are locking their population and enforcing strict quarantine to control the spread of the havoc of this highly communicable disease. COVID-19 has rapidly affected people’s day to day life (health, social and economy), businesses, disrupted the world trade and movements. This virus creates significant knock-on effects on the daily life of citizens as well as about the global economy. The virus has forced lockdowns across the globe and unexpectedly given respite to nature to heal itself.  Climate has benefitted on a short term basis with air pollution and greenhouse effects falling since early 2020. Global lockdowns, sharply curtailing economic activity, has led to  short-term impacts on emissions with a steep fall in levels of carbon dioxide emissions. A recent study noted that as compared to 2019 levels, the carbon emission saw a sharp decline of up to 17%. However, experts are quick to point out that these reductions does not mean the world in on the right track.  As per the UN Environment Programme, emissions must drop 7.6 per cent per year from 2020 to 2030 for the 1.5°C goal and 2.7 per cent per year for the 2°C goal. The pandemic has also affected education to such that today, online classes have become the normal. Academic education has been seriously affected as schoolroom classes are being replaced with online classes and institutional education being replaced by home education. With most offices closed and the people encouraged to work from home, every working person has become a mobile office. India is soon expected to surpass the USA in COVID cases. Currently as on September 19, India has recorded a total of nearly 54 lakh COVID-19 cases while the USA has around 67 lakh COVID-19 cases. According to virologists, epidemiologists and other health scientists India is projected to have around 2 crore COVID cases   by beginning of 2021. This projection is made on the basis of rate of infection and higher possibility that many cases were not reported. The fear of the virus is gradually ebbing away after Unlock 4:0. People across Nagaland are back to daily chores. However, the ‘new normal’ demands that people should accept that they will remain vulnerable at all times and have to adhere to SOPs. Social life has been affected and most are having to adjust to being forced to stay indoors. However , church services in Nagaland have been most severely affected due the advisory on elderly citizens over 60 years and children below 10 years of age. These age groups are said to be most vulnerable to co-morbidity of the COVID-19 so have been advised  to not attend public gatherings even including crowded market places. With some churches still unsure about reopening while some having already started services, the church leaders have to also accept that the new normal  challenges them to think out of the box.