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Catyria Adams

Professor Sandy- Smith

English 1201

17 November 2020

How Has The Coronavirus Pandemic Impacted American Society and All of its

Functions

The coronavirus, also known as covid-19, is an infectious disease or respiratory illness,

appearing upon coronavirus patients within 14 days of being exposed to the virus, was displaying

some of its first cases in Wuhan, China before turning into a nationwide pandemic. However,

there is no current cure, or identified source for the virus, thus limiting the progression of finding

a cure. Specifically, there have been some identified ways that the virus spreads, including

through close contact, the respiratory system, through droplets, etc. It has also been determined

that the virus is more fatal in older individuals, as a result interrupting the lives of many

individuals of society. More importantly, understanding that the virus was an economic, and

public health calamity, that placed many roadblocks on society. This includes the increased rate

of unemployment, the decreased rate of income, and businesses economically suffering from

lack of employees, school closing, delayed placement testing, and business closures.

Although there is no current cure or identified source of the virus, it has been determined

to transfer through close contact, the respiratory system, through droplets, etc. Thus resulting in

symptoms, such as pneumonia, fever, cough, stroke, shortness of breath, trouble breathing,

fatigue, chills, body aches, headaches, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, loss of smell or

taste, nausea, and diarrhea, etc. Furthermore, the effects also may expand to respiratory failure,

heart attacks, liver problems, septic shock, confusion, chest pain, and more fatally. However, for
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elderly individuals, the list also extends to cytokine release syndrome or an immune cell storm an

infection causes the immune system to fill with inflammatory proteins called immune cells in

your bloodstream, which may damage vital organs and tissues, also causing several COVID-19

complications.

With the current pandemics, continued progression, and increasing fatality rate, has come

an increased unemployment rate, thus contributing to the decreased rate of household income.

For example, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has observed the influence of the pandemic

on many households across America in this report, entitled "The Impact of Coronavirus on

Households Across America." In addition, the study educates readers about both the nationwide

problem, highlighting America's impact on American households, such as divorce rates, low

wages, and financial difficulties, unemployment emerging across America. It indicates,

therefore, that there will be an economic struggle to boost the economy as a whole. In particular,

RWJF states that the pandemic has been long-standing and could even persist for several years

due to lack of knowledge and social resistance.

In addition, increased unemployment has also reduced household income. Specifically,

business closures have also contributed to reduced household income, as individuals who have

become unemployed are receiving unemployment checks. Notably, this also places a roadblock

on the conflict on being able to maintain the household. According, to Pew Research lower-

income adults, continue to be the most impacted by Coronavirus-related work losses or wage

cuts. Some 47% of those with lower income claim that they or someone in their household had

these encounters, compared to 42% of those with middle income and 32% of those with upper

income. However, the government has approved weekly unemployment checks with some

circumstantial offers, which are dependent on if an individual will be returning to work, if an

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individuals was laid off of work, or if an individual quit based on health concerns, work shift,

social class etc.

As equally important, businesses are suffering due to a lack of employees. As a result, of

society’s reduced willingness and comfortability to work, many businesses have failed to

economically improve, falling more in-debt, leading to many closures, thus increasing the

unemployment rate and wealth gap. Additionally, Pew Research asserts that the epidemic has

had a global effect on religion as well as on the overall interaction within society. For example,

aspects of society that have been influenced include religious practices/activities, classrooms,

government decisions, jobs, companies, public meeting areas, as well as personal experiences

and behaviors. According to Pew Research, the virus has also affected American religious

actions, as more than half (55 percent) of all U.S. adults reported praying for an end to

coronavirus spread. The majority of Americans who pray every day (86 percent) and the U.S.

During the outbreak, Christians (73 percent) prayed, but so do those who say they pray rarely or

never, and those who say they do not belong to any religion (15 percent and 24 percent), further

inferring that has the current pandemic has placed many uncomfortable roadblocks on the

interaction of individuals within the community.

Whereas, businesses are lacking willing employees, then comes business closures. With

coronavirus becoming more fatal, much of society is becoming cautious and nervous about being

out in public. Therefore, many other business employees are being terminated indefinitely with

business closures. In addition to the rising morality rate of the coronavirus, is the increased

amount of debt as businesses are working to fund and maintain ownership of their shares.

Moreover, with the condensed business hours are individuals who are less willing to go out in

public, also contributing to economic failure. These condensed business hours have also placed
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roadblocks for employees, as some individuals are financially struggling to find balance and

make ends meet.

In addition, to business closures are school closures. As the coronavirus becomes more

fatal schools are being identifyed as an signifcant souurce for transmitting the virus. Besides this,

students are being placed on hybrid learning. Hybrid learning is the combination of online

educational content and online student interaction with standard on-site classroom strategies, to

decrease the in-person interaction. Well before, a student has contracted the virus, the results

suggested that college campuses could be hotspots for virus transmission. In reality, colleges and

students were not prepared for long-term campus closures, as campus students were forced to

leave the campus in hopes of mitigating the effects of the virus. According to Liz Mineo's

Harvard Gazette, most college students seem to be worried about contracting the virus, but more

about grades, credits, and reduced income from financial assistance and on-campus internships.

Furthermore, schools face immense, or extensive challenges in terms of how students can

function safely, comfortably, and effectively. Children and young adults are lacking educational

sources, from the delayed placement testing. As stated by Laura Jimenez with The Center of

American Progression, early indicators suggest that remote learning has proven to be very

inconsistent or unstable, including long-standing trends in achievement and success, as well as

be worsened by months of school closure. Schools have also delayed and canceled sports events

and activities.

In the journal entitled "Coronavirus Spreading Analysis Using Dynamic Spreading

Factor Epidemic Models" by Zahra Farahi and Ali Kamandi, in which the authors analyze the

different ways in which the coronavirus may spread, in addition to the ways in which the

government has intervened to prevent or reduce the covid rate. The authors also emphasize the
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significance of the pandemic, as well as how the behaviors that much of society has adopted, like

the virus, has influenced our lives and interactions within society. In addition, Farahi and

Kamandi attribute the characteristics of the virus to seasonal influenza. According, to Farahi and

Kamandi, containing the coronavirus and the rate that it spreads.

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Help Stop the Spread of Coronavirus and Protect Your

Family.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 22 Oct. 2020, www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-

updates/help-stop-spread-coronavirus-and-protect-your-family.

Although, there is not an identified source or cure for the coronavirus, there are

regulations and precautionary policies set in place in hopes to contain the rate at which the virus

spreads. For example, an order encouraging individuals to wear masks has been set in place. As

stated, by the CDC, the masks offer some protection to you and are also aimed at protecting

those around you in case you are unknowingly infected, or exposed to the virus that affects

COVID-19. However, the masks are not completely known to be effective, but the Center for

Disease Control encourages individuals to wear the masks as “COVID-19 spreads mainly from

person to person through respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets travel into the air when you

cough, sneeze, talk, shout or sing.”

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In addition, to masks orders, businesses and local legislators have also set in place social

distancing regulations. Social distancing includes avoiding hugs, handshakes, kisses, and highly

comminuted areas, sharing food, close contact, and large meeting areas, etc. More specifically,

there has been a 6 ft distance regulation to prevent the rate that the virus may spread. Alongside,

individuals have been encouraged to only leave the store when necessary, as well as wearing a

mask when deciding to travel in public places. According, to CDC “ Social distancing helps limit

opportunities to come in contact with contaminated surfaces and infected people outside the

home.” Moreover, the CDC suggests that maintaining space between you and others is one of the

strongest resources we need to prevent being vulnerable to and slowly reducing the progression

of this virus in our societies.

Another action made to mitigate the rate at which coronavirus spreads, is the capacity

limitations of a business. Limiting the capacity of individuals to an gathering, and decreasing in-

person interaction is advised as an advocate for decreasing virus transmission. According, to the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention those who are the lowest of risk coronavirus, consist

of those who partake in virtual activities, and even those who wear masks and social distance.

However, medium-sized and larger-sized gatherings are at the highest risk, as coronavirus

transmission occurs in highly trafficked areas. “The more people an individual interacts with at a

gathering and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the potential risk of becoming infected

with COVID-19 and COVID-19 spreading”(CDC). Depending on the business, there have also

been reduced capacity limits for society with the growing coronavirus rates.

On the contrary, much of society may claim that the masks are pointless and do not

protect, or decrease their exposure to the virus. They argue that even with the many steps taken

to avoid and mitigate health issues such as wearing masks, social distances, business closures,
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there is still a growing mortality rate. However, engineer Eghbal Hosseini asserts that the goal is

to contain the epidemic and reduce the rate of outbreaks. Furthermore, arguing that it is

important to enforce pressure to ensure that the population is more distant, therefore slowing

down the spread of the virus. Hosseini, also points out that the odds of coronavirus ending soon

are very low.

Aside, from this many individuals also disagree with the social distancing and curfew

regulations handed down to society. The curfews given to society are based on the state and area

code an individual resides in, but they are intended for businesses to disinfect and clean the

stores. However, some individuals claim that the curfews do not decrease the spread of

coronavirus because the germs can still travel. With the curfew, there have been reduced

business hours also contributing to the decreasing wealth gap. Nonetheless, the benefits and costs

of social distancing may include the total lives saved and economic damage. Other studies have

attempted to estimate job losses, model role in the economy as a whole and economic growth, or

estimate the additional analysis of current and past pandemics.

Meanwhile, some individuals also believe that the lockdowns placed on society may

place an even heavier economic roadblock on businesses. Many individuals within society

oppose the current orders set to contain the spread of the virus, for example, social distancing,

mask regulations, mandatory business shutdowns, earlier business closures, and curfews. Briefly,

the authors of the BPEA article state “School closures fell between stay-at-home orders and

business closures in terms of the tradeoff between job losses and social distancing gains.”

Additionally, businesses have become distressed based on the reduced amount of economic

stability, which will place a long-lasting effect on society.

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As stated by, author and professor Anton Pak, while coronavirus is a public health issue

and a global pandemic, it has greatly affected many parts of the economy. This includes the

unemployment rate, transport infrastructure, distribution systems, and inequality in income.

Therefore Pak concludes that this pandemic has also impacted many people's social ties and

mental well-being, as well as the lives of many, leading to the closing of businesses and

nationally. Assessing that the current epidemic is an economic and public health tragedy that put

several roadblocks on society. This encompasses an elevated rate of unemployment, a reduced

rate of wages, and businesses that are economically suffering from poverty, school closures,

delayed placement tests, and company closures.

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References

Arnon, Alexander D., John Ricco, and Kent A. Smetters. Published in 2020. “Epidemiological

and Economic Effects of Lockdown.” BPEA Conference Draft, Fall.

www.brookings.edu/bpea-articles/epidemiological-and-economic-effects-of-lockdown.

---. “Epidemiological and Economic Effects of Lockdown.” Brookings, 28 Sept. 2020,

www.brookings.edu/bpea-articles/epidemiological-and-economic-effects-of-lockdown.

Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Face Masks and Surgical Masks for COVID-19:

Manufacturing, Purchasing, Importing, and Donating Masks During the Public Health

Emergency.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3 Sept. 2020, www.fda.gov/medical-

devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/face-masks-and-surgical-masks-

covid-19-manufacturing-purchasing-importing-and-donating-masks-during.

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Help Stop the Spread of Coronavirus and Protect

Your Family.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 22 Oct. 2020,

www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/help-stop-spread-coronavirus-and-protect-

your-family.

“Communities, Schools, Workplaces, & Event.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30

Apr. 2020, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-

events/considerations-for-events-gatherings.html.

“Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 Feb.

2020, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html.
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“---.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 Feb. 2020,

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-

guidance.html.

Courtemanche, Charles, et al. “Strong Social Distancing Measures In The United States Reduced

The COVID-19 Growth Rate.” Health Affairs, vol. 39, no. 7, 2020, pp. 1237–46.

Crossref, doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00608.

Farahi, Zahra, and Ali Kamandi. “Coronavirus Spreading Analysis Using Dynamic Spreading

Factor Epidemic Models.” 2020 6th International Conference on Web Research (ICWR),

2020. Crossref, doi:10.1109/icwr49608.2020.9122308.

Hosseini, Eghbal, et al. “COVID-19 Optimizer Algorithm, Modeling and Controlling of

Coronavirus Distribution Process.” IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics,

vol. 24, no. 10, 2020, pp. 2765–75. Crossref, doi:10.1109/jbhi.2020.3012487.

Jimenez, Laura. “Student Assessment During COVID-19.” Center for American Progress,

Published 10 Sept. 2020, www.americanprogress.org/issues/education-k-

12/reports/2020/09/10/490209/student-assessment-covid-19.

Mineo, Liz. “The Pandemic’s Impact on Education.” Harvard Gazette, 10 Apr. 2020,

news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/04/the-pandemics-impact-on-education.

“Most Americans Say Coronavirus Outbreak Has Impacted Their Lives.” Pew Research Center’s

Social & Demographic Trends Project, Published 30 May 2020,

www.pewsocialtrends.org/2020/03/30/most-americans-say-coronavirus-outbreak-has-

impacted-their-lives.
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Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “The Impact of Coronavirus on Households Across

America.” Https://Www.Rwjf.Org/En/Library/Research/2020/09/the-Impact-of-

Coronavirus-on-Households-across-America.Html, 2020. RWJF,

www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2020/09/the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-households-

across-america.html.

Pak, Anton, et al. “Economic Consequences of the COVID-19 Outbreak: The Need for Epidemic

Preparedness.” Frontiers in Public Health, vol. 8, Published 2020. Crossref,

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.00241.