Covid19 And Social Occasions

The need for isolation and social distancing has affected the way people are socialising now...
This situation is really very scary...with new cases reported every day...no cure no vaccine yet..
getting scared reading articles which say that we need to be careful till 2022.. vaccine maybe out only in mid 2021 or later etc...

I see almost everyone using zoom, whatsapp, Skype, chats, conferring apps etc to meet family and friends virtually...
Many weddings fixed many months back with wedding date in March or April or May have been indefinitely postponed...few families opted for simple ceremony with just parents and siblings filled by marriage registration...of course, videos and pics shared with all family and friends..
With pregnant ladies and new moms at great risk, many ladies opted to cancel baby showers and GodhBharai ceremonies or kept it simple at home with just parents...delivery plans like woman travelling to hometown for delivery of parents and in laws coming over from other place to help, greatly changed with inter state and international travel being planned..
Baby naming ceremonies and first birthday celebrations too being kept low key with just parents and grand parents or postponed...
New babies will have visitors restricted indefinitely..
Two of my close friends had babies in 2019, in normal circumstances , i could have visited their home to se the baby in feb or March., but cancelled the plan..
Senior citizens will not be able to socialise much with others their age...
Festivals occasions too are low key..
Holi celebrations were cancelled in many places , especially in apartment complexes and educational institutions...

Even after the lockdown ends this month ( hopefully) in India and we get some relaxation’s :
1. How many of you are likely to use public transport or taxis or autos to commute?( those who drive vehicle will take their own, but others.?)
2. How many will cancel festival get togethers or keep it low key.? Navaratri Golu, Diwali get togethers etc..
Even those who order food from caterers outside would hesitate as they aren’t sure who is preparing and handling it,..
3. Will it be the new social etiquette to wash hands, feet, wear mask while going to any close persons home.? Close friends or close relatives.?
5. Will it soon become mandatory for guest to call up the host and find out if it’s ok for them to visits or not? Particularly if they’re working in essential services and need to travel to workplace amd in contact with many people, and the host has elders or babies or small kids at home?
Will it be impolite to tell someone they can’t visit because you want to follow social distancing?
Just wondering, because after lockdown gets over and restrictions ease, people are in a hurry to mingle in the real world..domestic helps are coming from different places , and rejoining work in batches..now and in next few months...I can still see people walking in road in groups without wearing masks..( India)
In my family circle itself my in-laws always invite people, especially relatives very often..organised get togethers for Navaratri festival...each relative would call family and friend support on a certain day...while that was the norm earlier things have to change now, is’nt it..

How would you balance the need for human contact with known people , at least, those residing in same city, and keep in touch , while also following social distancing?
Pls give your opinions, ladies..

 

Thanks for your first reply to my post...
Can understand your nervousness as I’m experiencing the same...
Have previously done lot of socialising, with relatives coming over and visiting them..attended many family functions...with a big immediate and extended circle, there has been a function almost every month..upto the pre- covidlockdown era, before March..
But now, nervous at the thought of inviting anyone or visiting anyone which would involve travelling in many places across city...( inter state travel or inter city travel within India I can’t even imagine for a long time , would say no to it even after domestic flights are enabled and borders opened for bus, train and road journeys to happen)

 

Praying for an early vaccine as it’s the most awaited one..
Entertainment industry will not have loss completely...web series on different online platforms like YouTube, Hotstar, Amazon Prime, Netflix etc will still generate revenue...lots of it...many movies can be released online directly and users can pay online and watch...anyways theatres will be out of business atleast this way producers can get some income..
But we will not dress up and go out often, so will not invest much on dresses and makeup..only working people will buy office wears in minimum required quantity as they would have home-office-home routine except for small outing to buy groceries at a nearby store or small personal errands to bank etc..cosmetic industry may see less profit in next one year..
Marriage halls and choultries too...as I stated in original post, public gathering functions are out of question information large number of people have to be invited, so functions maybe conducted low-key at home or smaller halls with limited by budget..caterers would not have much demand but just a smaller one..
cab drivers sitting at home, restaurants and cafes closed...bakeries open but hardly any customers..
Earlier, we Indian ladies would eagerly wait for next festival or family function to buy new sarees, stitch blouse for new unstitched ones etc..this would be on hold as we will use the ones we have for festivals at home and not buy new ones..
So Saree showrooms and jewellery showrooms would have some temporary loss ..
Regarding salons, noticing a trend among men and women avoiding salons by doing personal grooming at home...men using beard trimmers to cut hair, or family members taking turns to cut each other’s hair using scissors...women like me also are taking self grooming at home level by using natural home remedies and home made face packs, wax strips, epilators, razors,cream hair removers, eyebrow razors, facial hair trimmers ,facial steamers, manicure and pedicure kits bought online etc as a substitute for parlour services...

The danger and lack of socialising is leading to so many industries having losses!

 

Yes you’re right about avoiding public transport and social gatherings and not inviting guests to home till the pandemic is in control as everyone is at risk...