COVID 19, the Coronavirus, is causing a global panic.

As I write this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has just declared it a pandemic, citing “alarming levels of spread and… levels of inaction.” Right now, there are more than 120,000 documented cases worldwide and more than 1,000 here in the United States. I’m sure by the time you’re reading this, those numbers will seem nostalgic to you. Things move blindingly fast. As an illustration, three weeks ago, we hadn’t even heard of “self-quarantine”. Miriam Webster now ranks him in the top one percent of looks.

It could be said that the media is exaggerating the crisis to get attention and clicks. One could be right. However, there is also legitimate cause for concern. Between the flow of unreliable information; the natural fear that we all have of the unknown; as well as feeling that we are leaves in the rapids, driven without control; it is normal to have to contain the nauseous feeling of panic that assaults our throat.

As the serenity prayer says, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” This condition is not in the “change things I can change” column. The best advice is “remember to breathe”. Sure at any time. Close your eyes. Take a long deep breath. Let it go. Repeat. Color it “acceptance”

However, what will our society be like after the virus?

And yes, it will be gone. There will be a morning after. Most of us will be here when the sun rises that day. Using China as a model, the scourge, if handled well (and that’s a topic for another column), will take about eight weeks to run its course.

Surely there are more predictive minds than mine looking at that moment, although I think some consequences are already being revealed.

According to Wikipedia, “Social distancing is… (a method of) controlling actions… to stop or slow the spread of a highly contagious disease.” As we all know, it is being implemented by restricting and canceling large gatherings, such as concerts, sporting events, conventions, let alone schools, churches, and businesses. Cities have banned gatherings of more than 250 people. Italy has practically closed the doors and thrown away the keys. New Rochelle, NY has a one mile containment zone. All of these actions are being executed with the intention of flattening the “expansion curve”, a lofty goal but with secondary effects.

We travel less, even within our own cities. We stay more in our homes, associating only with those we trust.

Sadly, due to a perceived need, we’re even rethinking hugs and handshakes, changing them to fist bumps, foot bumps, and elbow bumps, as well as bows.

Culture has been defined as “this is how we do things around here”. Our culture, for better or worse, will not “do things” the way we did before this disease. It will not look or feel the same, even after the Coronavirus is relegated to the same place in history as polio, SARS, or the Black Death. Let’s “do things” differently

As human beings, we are programmed to be with others. That’s why we form close relationships, we build communities, we build cities. This epidemic is putting us at odds with our nature, causing sadness and internal conflict that will remain in the future. It will show as if we are more physically and emotionally isolated; nesting more, using virtual links more often than now, looking for that connection that we no longer feel safe to receive in public. The fear and suspicion of the “other”, which is already a great difficulty in society, are being amplified.

You may or may not agree with my calculations but, being a battle-hardened optimist, I want to believe that maybe, just maybe, this horrendous period will shine a bright light on the fact that, regardless of our color, gender , sexuality. preference, political leanings, even the country we live in-we are One. Each of us loves and fears and does his best. However, in a New York minute, everything can be changed, through no fault of our own.

I know that no matter what the future holds, we have a better chance if we can find ways to help and support each other during this period, whether it’s through a video conference or as part of a large conference.

This will end. What happens next is being created now. Choose your reaction wisely.

Staying healthy. Okay.