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Fifteen positive aspects of physical distancing

Posted in 21/05/2020 at 12:04

It is clear that the Covid 19 pandemic is a serious health problem and must be taken seriously. Among the necessary measures is physical distancing to slow down the contagion and prevent the collapse of health services. But there is a clear exaggeration in the quantity and forcefulness of negative articles on the subject (as shown in the March and April‘s Media Violence). The media knows that spreading fear sells and gives them audience. It even has the prestige of showing concern for life. But exaggerated fear has serious consequences for society and people’s health.

Like everything in life, physical distancing has both good and bad aspects. The planet lives an unique opportunity for each person to withdraw to their family nucleus and seek new ways of working and interacting with the outside world. We list below 15 positive aspects that are rarely present in the media.

1. The revaluation of the family 👪

Quarantine provides unprecedented coexistence periods for many families. Parents can follow up on children’s issues and spouses can interact more. Opportunities arise to address the most important relationships: those of the family.

2. The reinvention of education 🧑‍🎓

Schools and parents have partnered to maintain learning. With the support of digital technologies, parents began to exercise educational activities under the supervision of teachers. Parental participation makes learning more effective, as research shows. After this rich experience, school life will not be the same. Parents will respect teachers more, and teachers will be able to count on parents help to strengthen education

3. The reinvention of work 👩‍💻

Companies and professionals find that distance work is not only feasible, but it also has numerous advantages. People stop spending hours commuting and can use that time in productive activities or with the family, gaining quality of life. That way, they are happier, and this influences the quality of their work. Distance work allows companies to reduce costs with physical structure and transportation costs, among other advantages

4. Time for hobby or study 🧘

Social distance and digital technologies allow people to perform activities that were neglected due to lack of time. How to take a language, gastronomy or art course, or dedicate yourself to a hobby or study, anything that people are happy to do. The internet was filled with options for courses and activities that are free, or affordable, in the most varied areas.

5. Relief in traffic and public transport 🚍

With fewer trips, the number of cars in circulation fell by 50%. The number of accidents fell by up to 80%. The drop in demand for public transport reached 83% in the subway, 76% in CPTM and more than 80% in municipal buses, ending the overcrowding.

6. Pollution reduction 🌎

Satellite images show a reduction of about 50% of pollutants over metropolitan areas of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. In Italy, fish began to be seen in the Venice canals. In northern India, people in the cities saw the Himalayan mountain range again – which has not happened since World War II. All over the world, there are improvements in fauna and air quality.

7. Strengthening e-commerce, delivery and remote service provision 🏍️

With creativity, companies have reinvented themselves to continue serving customers. In this way, they became more flexible and productive.

8. The offer of good content on the internet 💻

The digital environment started to disseminate the most varied live and recorded contents: shows, courses, events, physical activity classes, etc.

9. Strengthening the digital connection 🌐

Companies, people and causes endeavored to have a presence on the internet in order to have quality of life in the circumstances of social detachment. This connection brings countless positive possibilities for each individual and for society.

10. The development of new technologies at a distance 📱

Telemedicine has become a reality. Likewise, events started to be held in the online environment, with cost savings and several advantages. All professions and activities seek to update themselves to the digital environment.

11. Strengthening the sense of community 😷

Each person became aware (or at least informed) that just walking on the street exposes others to contamination. Staying at home has become an act of solidarity. As a result, social cohesion is strengthened. In this sense, it is incorrect to speak of “social distance”, as the internet offers ways of social relationship at a distance, being more precise to speak of physical distance.

12. Emphasis on local consumption 👩‍🌾

As displacements and shipments became more difficult, local trade was valued. In this way, communities are strengthened.

13. Reduced consumption levels 🙏

Families consumed less durable goods and focused on spending on food and medicine. The traditional economy considers this reduction to be bad news, but there are countless positive aspects, from reducing pressure on the environment to the search for a life oriented more in “being” than “having”, with wide benefits for people.

14. Creation of generous forms of government support 🤲

The coronavirus voucher was a solution for the most unprotected part of the population. One can think, with fiscal responsibility, of ways to maintain support for these social segments.

15. The enhancement of hygiene 🧼

The coronavirus imposed habits such as washing your hands frequently and new ways of coughing and sneezing, for example.

 

Roger Ferreira

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