The 2020 Epilogue: Pandemic
Under the administration of General Secretary Li Keqiang, China has been gradually reforming. The top priorities was purging the administration on the federal, provincal and city levels of corruption along with the reforms for the shift to renewable energies and other environmental maintanace practices, especially with the creation of a local Chinese film detailing a China in danger of an overgrown Gobi Desert. Of course, trying to rid the administration of such problems means mistakes can be made, but they have tried to ensure communications needed in terms of foreign policy. It all started over near the end of the previous year. There was a growth of a new disease, a new strain of SARS, was found in the large city of Wuhan in the Hubei province. When initial testings shown the potential for disaster, the nation began undergoing into lockdown and investigations were made underway, especially for the disease not to spread. Rather than try to keep the news secret, Keqiang brought up the developments to the other major powers and developments were being made to keep an eye on it, especially with how little they knew. Initially, it looked like progress was being made and by Febuary, it seemed that the situation seemed to have stablized.
Then the news came of the infection over in Hong Kong. Then in North Korea. Then in South Korea. Then in Japan and later Central Asia. There was a spread of a new epidemic. Some slipped through the cracks, were asymtopmatic carries or perhaps mistook it for just the common cold or season flu. European travelers and businessmen would bring it over to Europe and from there it would be brought over to the Americas. And then the first deaths were piling up.
A new pandemic had entered the scene and the world. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus II aka SARS CoV II and with it, a disease. Coined COVID, short for the coronavirus disease and later COVID-20 for its outbreak in 2020, it would become the defining hallmark over of the year 2020. It spread much like the common cold, but was hardier and large-scale events where people were close to one another would become known as "Super-spreader" events. Initially, certain politicians were skeptical, until the various nations began practiacing lockdown procedures, the deaths began piling up and even some of the upper-middle class or well-off folk found themselves in danger. Suddenly, large gatherings became a problem. Work environments, places of entertainment and so on. They could suddenly spread the disease and while they worked for containment, it created a new issue.
Certain businesses were resisting the issues and people were being potentially forced to choose to risk their employments and their healths. Governments meanwhile had to be prepared to deal with potential economic damages along with potential measures they may have to take. People were either not taking the virus not seriously at first or skeptical, but by the end of May, there was the global consencus. The world was under the chokehold of a disease. Schools were restricted and many entertainment venues found themselves closed for the safety of their workers or restricted hours.
There was a growing restlessness occurring amongst the young people or others. Holidays had to be cancelled and people had to distance themselves. However, Chinese assistance early on helped to develop the potentials for such a problem. The Sanders administration stockpiled on various masks for keeping infection though notable for making the switch to reusable masks to be spread to people. Reusable masks found themselves as a boom to be washed. Hygiene was promoted dogmatically along with social distancing. All of these were done to try and minimize the numbers of people being infected to not overload hospitals as they had to prepare for the oncoming troubles. Cotnroversy came on how certain nations like Hungary and Sweden tried to a "herd immunity" approach and the problems there.
There was a growing divide between those who followed the regulations and those who haven't, due to their resistances against the restrictions and certain politicians aligning with them on the subject matter, though the growing spread and infection showed that the disease could not be bullied or ignored. And there was now a growing existenial dread over the nature of the virus. If several businesses and workplaces had to remained closed, what would be done about housing or food or essential services. While many Americans found themselves more appreciative of the government funded healthcare along with college students same with university, there was the looming question of people who pay rent or if they would be kicked out. Fortunately, several governments began making several actions to ensure the safey and well-being of the people. The Sanders Administration for example went with monthly direct payments of $2000 for each American to assist in maintaining finacial security, including the undocumented, the homeless, the unbanked, and a few others. Additionally, there was additional funds that came for unemployment, especially those who were let go because of the closed businesses or let go because they were unwilling to work in the conditions set by workplaces that would've endangered them and or their loved ones. Various other nations followed suit in some form or fashion to do so. Others began taking steps to work from home and do their best to adjust there. Small and local business that were willing to accomodate the newer "social distancing" mandates and safety regulations were given financial assistance to help in that regard. Frontline workers and those who had to be involved were given a payraise directly or by arm-twisting the companies.
The virus and outbreak would have far-reaching consequences. It quickly became the dominant topic of discussion for the election season and the Sanders Administration's prompt steps to handle it were applauded and celeberated, with several on the fence the first time or now going back to the Sanders camp . At the same time, he was criticized by certain politicians and concerns over the stimulus checks and whether the growing mandates and restrictions were legal or required. This would be countered by the growing tragedies of people lost to the virus and the fears over people who could be taken from it. Furthermore, many were forced to confront with the view of how various people in the service industry were treated in pop culture, the overall political stucture and by them society as they were maintaining the day-to-day order during this time. Movie theaters, amusement parks, restaurants and other venues found themselves relatively empty. While some adjusted and resorted to home delivery, people began to also cookm from home, spend time together more or resort to more leisure at home. Video games, streaming and television became the main escapist venues for people to hide under and bingewatch, especially for those who were laid off or found little else that could be done. Libraries found themselves either on restrictions or lockdowns when it came to renting electrical media. The theaters were hit quite hard with this and accelerated what many saw as the decline of the movie theater or at least megaplexes and big cinema as smaller theaters remained afloat through indie hits or other services.
Many also noted profound changes. With the absence of cars on most streets or the restrictions of some factories, the changes were surprisingly sudden with clearer skies and much less traffic. Stay-at-home orders saw the drop in traffic and in car accidents. While many expected this, what it actually meant caused alot of reflection within the world and what it meant for the larger world at hand. Others meanwhile reflected on the irresponsability of some groups and the results that came from the sickness and those who reacted without it. This also saw a growing sense of empathy and community. Homeless, among those most concerned, would find themselves given temporary shelter in different venues, most notably the defunct Trump Tower, having been possessed by the city several years prior after the death of the moghul along with the various lawsuits of the company and the arrests of certain members. There was a real sense that there was a small glimpse of potential here.
The Chinese word for crisis contained two characters. One meaning danger and the other meaning change point (often mistranslated as opportunity) though nonetheless, many would see an opportunity here and the Sanders Administration would be one.
Around July 4th, the Sanders Administration would take the time to reassure the people in a manner similar to the Fireside chats of FDR before rolling out a series of reforms in order to help out people during this time and taking the opportunity for a grander tomorrow...