Finding Silver Linings During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus outbreak has ravaged the world over the past few months, killing thousands and disrupted everyone’s lives. Here in Florida, a statewide “stay-at-home” order has been implemented, limiting nonessential activities and keeping many Floridians cooped up in their houses. College students have either gone home or they are staying in their dorms and conducting classes and meetings online, and a large number of companies are having their employees work from home while we ride out this pandemic.

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 outbreak is a very difficult situation that has presented unprecedented challenges our society has never faced before. But as with other challenges Americans have faced, we are responding with resilience, creativity, and a “can-do” spirit that has brought out the best in our fellow citizens. We are all in this together, and families and communities are pulling together to find ways to support those on the front lines and help those in need.

Here are some of the ways Floridians and Americans across the country are helping to make a positive difference during the midst of the coronavirus pandemic:

• Mask Deliveries: There is a movement across the country to get masks into the hands of health care workers and those who are most vulnerable to the virus. Some Americans are sewing masks out of material from arts and craft stores, others are obtaining them through connections with manufacturers, and still others are delivering them to the people who are most in need. We have even had companies that manufactured other products from similar materials step up and begin mass production of masks to help meet the growing need across the country.

• Grocery and Food Deliveries for Shut-Ins: With our society’s most vulnerable having to stay at home in order to avoid contracting the virus, neighbors are stepping up to make sure that they have everything they need. One example from right here in our own backyard is Larry, an uber driver from Bay City, FL. Between trips, he delivers groceries to the shut-ins in his community, and all he asks in return is that they pay him for the cost of the groceries if they can afford it. Otherwise, he says just “pay it forward and stay safe”.

• Support of Local Restaurants: There has been an outpouring of support across the country for local restaurants that are trying to survive during this pandemic. Many restaurants have rapidly switched over to online ordering, curbside pickup, and delivery (if they were not already providing these services), and those within their local communities are ordering from them as much as they can in order to help them stay afloat. Another way to support restaurants and retail establishments that are temporarily closed or with limited services is to purchase a gift card for future use.

More Time for Reflection, Faith, and Family

Whether we like it or not, one thing the COVID-19 pandemic has done is disrupt our regular routine. In particular, most of us are spending a lot more time at home. While we did not plan it this way, this extra time can be used in many constructive ways. For example, you may have more time to practice your faith, reflect on your priorities, and to bond with family members who are stuck at home with you. You could also take this time to contact others you are close to but haven’t spoken with for a while to catch up with them and find out how they are doing. When this is all over, you may look back fondly in many ways at this difficult season, the lessons you learn from it, and the memories that will be created.

Working from Home Works Well for a lot of Americans

The coronavirus pandemic is likely to accelerate the trend toward working remotely. Many organizations that were reluctant to make this transition until it became a necessity will find that their workers can be just as productive (or even more so) working from home. Of course, this is not possible or practical for all occupations and industries, and in some cases, organizations may develop a hybrid approach of working from home part of the time with some time spent in the office. The point is that because of this pandemic, a lot of companies have learned that having employees work from home can actually be a more effective and efficient way to operate their business.

An Increasingly Health and Hygiene Conscious Society

When all of this is over, there may be many positive changes to our societal values. One in particular is an increased focus on maintaining good hygiene. Washing hands, using sanitizer, avoiding handshakes (especially if you are feeling ill), and maintaining distance from others if you are sick are all good practices that can help reduce other viral outbreaks in the future, even the common cold and flu that goes around every year.

We are Here if you Need Us

Necessity is the mother of invention, and we as Americans are very good at inventing solutions to overcome challenges. Together, we will overcome this challenge and come out stronger because of it. In the meantime, we at Whibbs, Stone, & Barnett want you to know that we are here for you if you need our help. We are taking all the precautions and we are following all of the guidelines laid out by our state government. And like many of you, we are spending a lot more time at home these days. But in the midst of all of this, we are here to serve you.

If you have a legal issue that you need help with, message us online or call our office today at 1-888-219-4561 to schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team.