The Return To Life Pre-Pandemic: Long-Overdue Or Done Too Soon?

By: Cory Utsey

It has been just over a year since the United States has dealt with COVID-19 and its associated adjustments. Among the changes made to lessen the spread of this illness have been mask mandates, lower capacities for businesses and in some cases, complete closures.

Living in the midst of a pandemic has ultimately become the “new normal”, but as the number of new cases have begun to shrink, and as more Americans have begun to receive vaccinations, a call for the return to life before the pandemic-- the “old normal”-- has become increasingly present. Although this call is completely understandable, there is still a chance that it has been made too soon.

According to the CDC, individuals who are fully vaccinated are permitted to engage in activities that were done before the pandemic-- such as small gatherings or eating in a restaurant-- without wearing a mask or maintaining a distance of 6-feet apart, unless these parameters are required by law or by a particular establishment. If fully-vaccinated individuals are exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, they are not advised to stay away from others or get tested unless they begin to exhibit symptoms. 

In the states of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, many of the capacity limits in places such as hair salons, museums and movie theaters have been lifted as of May 19. In other states, such as Texas and Louisiana, statewide mask mandates have been lifted for most public establishments. And in the state of California, Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing for all schools to reopen for the fall.

Many people, including lawmakers, are fed up with COVID-19, and this is understandably so. Students are tired of logging onto virtual classrooms, businesses who have operated at lower capacities do not want to risk foreclosure, and people who once frequented parties and concerts miss that thrill. Adjusting to life in a pandemic has been far from easy, and many people want nothing more than to return to life as it was prior to March of 2020.

At the same time, though, to say that life pre-pandemic would function well in the current state of affairs would ignore a few key issues.

COVID-19 is no longer rising in the way that it was months ago, but it has not magically gone away. People are still contracting and dying from the illness, and for some, the symptoms last for months by way of long-term health conditions.

Additionally, there are still many people who are fueled by skepticism, distrust of the medical system or complete disregard for the ramifications of the pandemic; not only do these people continuously live their lives under unsafe conditions by attending large gatherings and refusing to wear a mask, but many of them also refuse to get vaccinated.

USA Facts reports that 48% of the population has received at least one dose of a vaccination, while 38% of the population is fully vaccinated. Many scientists have argued that the idea of “herd immunity” is neither viable nor likely, as it does not necessarily guarantee that populations will be exempt from new infections or variants.

However, when you have lifted restrictions, careless individuals and numbers of vaccinated people that are likely less than desirable, it is hard to really gauge whether or not the United States will fully get over COVID-19 any time soon.

Nevertheless, there is really no substantive way of understanding how each of these factors will influence the rest of the year. 

Restrictions and mandates or not, one can only hope that people will prioritize the health and safety of both themselves and their community. Neither the new normal nor the old normal are worth anything without it.

---

YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:

SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA

Stephanie Isioma Talks Maxim Cover Girl Competition

By: Omar Cook

Model Stephanie Isioma is chasing her dream by currently competing in the 2019 Maxim Cover Girl Competition. This competition provides an opportunity for major exposure and a $10,000 cash prize. She currently sits in the top 10 and is looking to advance to the next stage in the final top 5. Stephanie is originally from Nigeria and currently resides in Toronto, Canada. She graduated from York University with a bachelor degree in Culture and Expressions. Stephanie has an ideal model height at 5”11 and loves to sing and dance for fun.

“I am a very smart and happy young lady with a huge dream of becoming a professional model sometime in the future and also own a business that I can nurture till growth. I can be very quiet when I want to be, especially around people I am not too familiar with. I can also be a loud mouth when it comes to talking and this only happens around people I am familiar with. I can be very shy sometimes. I love shopping and looking good and I also hope to travel around the world, doing what I love doing, which is modeling and just motivating and having an impact on someone, sending out a message to never give up no matter what.”

You can vote for Stephanie Isioma HERE!

We talked with Stephanie Isioma about her journey into modeling, check it out below!

QUESTION: What does winning this competition and gracing the cover of Maxim mean to you?

Stephanie: I love modeling, and being a part of and winning the maxim cover girl competition, will be an avenue to hone my modeling career, start a business and nurture it till growth. If I am voted as maxim cover girl, some of the cash price will be given to a mental health facility. It is to be taken seriously because it affects the average individual and also will be a motivation to people.

QUESTION: What have been some of your biggest challenges with being a professional model?

Stephanie: The colour of my skin

QUESTION: Where do you see yourself and your career in the next 5 years and what do you hope to accomplish with your career?

Stephanie: In the next five years, I see myself and my career higher than where I am now; accomplished being an international model, getting all those great contracts and deals. I would have established my own business and basically bless and motivate people all over the world.

QUESTION: What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?

Stephanie: Having to put myself out there, despite the fact that I started modeling professionally in 2017. I was way older to have been able to find myself a legit modeling agency to sign me. I got turned down so many times but I never gave up. Until I found Gemini models, they called me in for an interview because they liked my pictures, I went in and that was how I have been working with them and ever since then, they have been my Mother Agency for a year and some months.

QUESTION: What does success look like to you and what motivates you?

Stephanie: Setting goals and working towards achieving them, and knowing what you want to accomplish and have created a plan is what success is to me. Working the plan in order to achieve success. One of my biggest motivations is trying to stay on top of the game no matter the outcome,positive or negative. It has taught me to always keep grinding, work harder and be a better version of myself.

QUESTION: What advice can you give to others who are looking to have a career in modeling?

Stephanie: Always talk to God first, always believe and have faith in yourself. Never look down on yourself, never give up and always believe that you are not just the best but deserve the best.

QUESTION: What has been your greatest achievement or moment in your career so far?

Stephanie: Being able to compete in Top model search Canada 2018, Miss world Canada 2018 and Fashion on Yonge.

---

YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:

SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA