Week… I’ve Lost Count – Life Amidst Coronavirus In New York City

Published by PolisPandit on May 11, 2020May 11, 2020

I don’t even know anymore. We have adjusted, more or less, to our work from home life quarantined in Tribeca. I’ve lost count of the weeks, days, and months (it’s almost mid-May already?!). The year of 2020 will go down as a lost one, similar to the lost generations of decades past. And that is if you are fortunate not to succumb or lose a family member or friend to this horrible virus.

The news around New York City has remained unsettling to say the least. The financial firms that employ my wife and I have no idea when we will return to a “normal” work environment. Working from home is the new normal for now, and maybe until 2021. A large reason for that is because of the city where we work – New York City. The financial capital of the world, the city that never sleeps, has ground to a halt. The features that make this metropolis desirable for businesses, professionals, and bon vivants – its density, 24-hour subway, and some of the best restaurants and bars in the world – all make it particularly vulnerable to a highly contagious virus. New York City will likely be one of the last cities to return to “normalcy”, however it will be defined.

Until then I will watch The Last Dance (thank God for it), plan imaginary music festivals, and challenge myself in the kitchen. And who knows, my wife and I may even pick up cycling, an acceptable socially-distant activity for the times.

Life in isolation should inspire new hobbies. We cannot travel safely, that’s for sure. In January we lived in a world where it was safe to travel to Rome. Now I fear when it will be safe to travel anywhere again. When will I be able to eat at a restaurant without worrying about social distancing? Will we ever be able to ride the NYC subway again without fear? Is the handshake dead forever? Will all these jobs even need to be based in New York City anymore? For this last question, the toothpaste may already be out of the tube now that companies realize their employees can work reasonably effectively from outside traditional office environments.

It is safe to say that the Coronavirus pandemic will have an irreversible change on society. Whether cities like New York ever return to the way they operated and existed before is anyone’s guess. Walking these usually crowded streets on a bright and sunny (albeit cold) day is eerie to say the least. I fear it may only be ominous of what’s to come.