Will we finally return to a semblance of normalcy in 2022?

[Calthrina950]

The question is as in the title. As 2021 comes to an end, the coronavirus pandemic, and all of its associated restrictions, continue. The promise that vaccines would return us to normalcy turned out to be a false one. Yes, we are not under lockdown anymore, but there have been so many changes to society, and societal conditions don't resemble those of 2019. Will the coronavirus pandemic last for the entirety of next year? Will we finally go back to normal? Or will we still be in the same situation a year from now?

Vote in the poll and provide your opinions below.

[beaver2.0]

Uncertain but leaning no.

[kyc0705]

This is something of a dodge of your question, but I don't think a post-pandemic society will just be a reversion to 2019, anyway. To borrow a phrase, yesterday's gone.

Individuals and institutions will proceed with the memory of this event and live with the possibility that it could happen again. We can't go back to the world of November 2019 the same way we can't go back to the world of September 10, 2001. We might want to, but I'm not sure if it's possible anymore.

[Donerail]

Who's "we"? People are back to normal in red states and will probably stay that way in 2022. If you live somewhere where Democrats are in power, as I do, probably not.

[Xing]

In my neck of the woods, this already is a “semblance” or normalcy, since everything is open to those who are vaccinated, and people are pretty much living their lives normally, albeit with masks on indoors. As for complete normalcy, with no masks or any vaccine mandates, probably not early in 2022, though perhaps in the middle to later part of the year.

[PSOL]

Absolutely not, things will get worse as the economy suffers again.

[Damocles]

Reversion to the November 2019 status quo is basically impossible. What's important here is that we look forward to meeting the challenges ahead.

[ElectionsGuy]

Not if you're in a liberal city. Or anywhere in Europe, Canada, or Australia.

[MATTROSE94]

Not if you live in Hawaii, California, Illinois, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey, DC, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Michigan (the states with mask mandates and the states that will likely implement very stringent COVID NPIs next week).

[Pericles]

My life is normal. It would be nice not to have to wear a mask, but that alone doesn't mean normal life isn't back. Vaccine mandates aren't a problem for me or anyone I know because we all did the right thing and got vaccinated. The only thing that is really not normal is that our borders are still closed, that will gradually return to normal, and for most of the world it is a lot closer to normal already.

[MATTROSE94]

My life is normal. It would be nice not to have to wear a mask, but that alone doesn't mean normal life isn't back. Vaccine mandates aren't a problem for me or anyone I know because we all did the right thing and got vaccinated. The only thing that is really not normal is that our borders are still closed, that will gradually return to normal, and for most of the world it is a lot closer to normal already.

Same here. I am not crazy about mask wearing anymore, but I will still wear a mask in places where it is required or everywhere once New Jersey reinstates its statewide mask mandate next week. Probably my favorite types of masks are the KN95s or N95s, as they seem to have the highest efficacy. The blue surgical ones are uncomfortable at best and I can only wear those types for a few hours at most.

[Ferguson97]

Not if you live in Hawaii, California, Illinois, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey, DC,nPemnsuobania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Michigan (the states with mask mandates and the states that will likely implement very stringent COVID NPIs next week).

Lol I live in New Jersey and have been living my life normally since June.

[YE]

We certainly have a “semblance” of normalcy right now unless you are affiliated with an elite private college or something.

[Aliens]

Supporting government restrictions for COVID probably won't be a winning issue in the 2022 elections.  

[MATTROSE94]

Not if you live in Hawaii, California, Illinois, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey, DC, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Michigan (the states with mask mandates and the states that will likely implement very stringent COVID NPIs next week).

Lol I live in New Jersey and have been living my life normally since June.

There has been talk of Phil Murphy reinstating the mask mandate, capacity restrictions, and school closings after the holiday season ends due to high Omicron case numbers.

[SWE]

Unless you've been making the conscious choice to regulate your behavior of your own volition, things have basically been back to normal for a while

[Calthrina950]

Reversion to the November 2019 status quo is basically impossible. What's important here is that we look forward to meeting the challenges ahead.

This implies that some of the restrictions we've seen will become permanent.

[Mr. Smith]

Normalcy...after Trump? With this Congress? Regardless of COVID?

[Blue3]

No.

[Calthrina950]

Unless you've been making the conscious choice to regulate your behavior of your own volition, things have basically been back to normal for a while

But many people don't have the freedom to consciously regulate their own behavior with regards to the pandemic; they are forced to, with mask mandates being the most obvious example of this.

[CEO Mindset]

Unless you've been making the conscious choice to regulate your behavior of your own volition, things have basically been back to normal for a while

But many people don't have the freedom to consciously regulate their own behavior with regards to the pandemic; they are forced to, with mask mandates being the most obvious example of this.

True. Don't forget about workplace mask rules.

I was for UBI/making employment 100% socially/economically optional back in early 2020 and events since then have only made me even more firm on this.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

I highly doubt things will be normal again for a decade-plus, if ever. They don't call it "New Normal" for nothing.

Mass omicron infection to ease concerns about the severity is the best we can hope for in public attitude changes. But doubtful that public officials will cave so easily.

[Santander]

There is no going back to 2019. Even if mask, vaccine, and travel restrictions ended worldwide tomorrow, it still wouldn't go back to "normal".