Aseem Java Blogs: Overtaking the Pandemic

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When the new year began in 2020, we were so happy to welcome the new decade. All of us had new dreams to fulfill and were looking forward to new opportunities in the upcoming year. We were living our lives without a break. Nobody had imagined even in the strangest dreams that the world would come to a standstill because a microscopic organism came into existence and that organism would raise questions on our existence. By now lockdown has almost become the norm across the world though some countries are partially lifting the restrictions because it has been realized that this pandemic situation will be here for a while, till a solution is found out for the same. So the show must go on.

In this article I will try to discuss a few interesting things regarding how the world is changing and taking the pandemic in its stride to move on in these tough times.

1. Cricket match in an empty stadium: We have always seen cricket stadia is packed to their capacity in most of the international matches. But the current pandemic made it totally different.

To avoid the spread of the virus, the latest international match played on 13^th March 2020 between New Zealand and Australia was held in empty Sydney Cricket Ground stadium.

2. New ways of shining the ball: A bowler’s white uniform having red patches is a common sight in test matches. This is because of saliva being rubbed repeatedly on the red ball to make it shiny for a better swing.

But this is likely to change as reported by reputed website ESPNCricInfo, that ICC may allow the use of artificial substances to shine the ball, instead of using saliva in the post-pandemic cricket. The website also reported that Kookaburra, an Australian brand, one of the three brands whose balls are used in international matches is in the process of developing a wax applicator that would be ready by June 2020. If ICC decides in a meeting to be held in May end or early June 2020 to allow the use of artificial substances for shining, then the Kookaburra’s wax applicator can be the answer to safe, saliva free cricket.
UPDATE: ICC Cricket Committee headed by Anil Kumble has decided in the meeting to ban the use of saliva or any other artificial substance to shine the ball. Only use of sweat is allowed for the same.

3. Online car purchase: Yes, you read that correctly. Automobile business that was already badly hit has suffered further due to the pandemic like all other sectors. To combat this situation, companies like Maruti Suzuki, BMW, Audi. Hyundai, Volkswagen, Honda and Mahindra etc. have introduced online booking of cars in India.

4. Long-term Work from Home: Many companies allow employees to work occasionally from their homes, either certain days of the week or when the employees need the same due to some reason. This is very common around the world and has been the norm especially in the current scenario to protect the interest of employees and not let the business suffer. But certain companies like Twitter have announced that employees can work from home permanently.

TCS an Indian IT service and consulting major announced recently that 75% of its global work-force will permanently work from home from 2025. Google announced work from home till 2021.

5. Reduced quality for online streaming: Due to lockdown, most of us have been using too much internet either for work or to stream online content. This led to a burden on the cellular network due to higher data consumption around the world. So, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube, etc. initially decreased the video quality in Europe and later on in other countries including India. Though, it is reported that Netflix has restored original quality in Europe since 16^th May 2020.

6. Direct OTT release of movies: Till now, mainly movies used to be released in theatres and later on the Over The Top (OTT) platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Zee5 etc. after a few months. Now, direct OTT release seems to be the norm because the theatres are closed to avoid further spread of the pandemic in India.

For example, Hindi movies, Gulabo Sitabo and Shakuntala Devi will be released directly on Amazon Prime Video.

7. Changes in retail store shopping: Gone are the days when we used to go shopping as and when we wanted. With the ongoing pandemic, there are restrictions on number of people who can go inside the store at a time.

To overcome this problem D’Mart, a hypermarket chain in India, opened its stores 24X7 in Mumbai. Buyers need to take a time token and come back at the stated time.

Even when shopping resumes post lockdown, it will not be the same as before.

For example, Blackberrys, a clothing brand will not allow garment trials while Levi’s will defer exchanges for some time.

8. Contact-less dining: It has been about 2 months since national lockdown began in India. Contactless delivery of essential goods and food by e-commerce and food delivery companies has been already going on. For example, Zomato agent sends a photo of the delivered parcel as a notification and the customer can collect the parcel once the agent leaves. So now no more waiting for the package at the doorstep.

But now the foodservice companies are thinking ahead. They know that even though the foodservice industry is hit but people may still like to dine out once the relaxations are given and the people are assured of hygiene measures. Keeping this in mind companies have announced contactless dining.

For Example: Dineout, a restaurant aggregator platform in India has announced a six stage process it plans to introduce, in which all the steps from selecting the restaurant & ordering food, to checking into the restaurant, paying and giving feedback, everything will be done through the App.

9. Cancellation and Postponement of Exams: As students of any class, we have always wanted that the exam for the day should be cancelled or postponed. (I am sure you have a smile on your face as you remember the school days).

In the wake of current pandemic, pending exams of class X and Class XII across India, have been either cancelled or postponed. Similarly, students of classes 1 to 8, (and by some Boards, class 9^th and 11^th) were promoted without exams.

Not just school level, even the University level exams are affected by the pandemic. Mumbai University has cancelled all exams except for Final Year students whereas Delhi University will hold exams from 1^st July 2020.

10. Online classes: In some schools classes are being conducted online using video conference software. This way, students can keep up with learning from the safe environment of their homes. Even the classes for tiny tots are being held in the similar fashion.

11. Difference in train journeys: In India, till now we were only expected to arrive about 2 hours early in case we had to take a flight but now, even to undertake a train journey, we will need to arrive 1.5 hours early to complete pre-boarding health screening.

There would be no linen provided in the AC class. Till now we just had our luggage, but now, till the pandemic is in effect, we will need to carry a blanket etc even in the AC class journey.

12. Innovative ideas: In some activities, people around the world have come up with innovative ideas to face the pandemic.

For example, in a salon in Gurgaon, India, where salons were allowed to open, the staff is serving the customers wearing protective gear.

Similarly, on Easter, some people attached to the Rock City Church, Ohio, surprised the pastor by pasting pictures of church members on the empty seats of the church to give a feeling of full room of people for prayer. Ohio had stay-in orders at that time.

Thus, we see that even with a pandemic, life doesn’t stop for a long time. The virus will not immediately vanish after lockdown ends. We need to learn to live with it in the best possible way.

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I hope you all found this article informative and interesting. I will try to post interesting articles in an easy language in this blog. Please keep following and also do share your thoughts about the blog and suggestions for future posts. You can ask me questions in the comments section or mail them to me at: askme[at]aseemjavablogs[dot]com and I will try to answer them.

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