Ronald Steriti, ND, PhD©
This is a hard article both to write and read. But, you may find worthwhile.
The Beginning and Ending
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) Declared COVID-19 a pandemic.1
On March 7, 2022, influential U.S. scientists put out a “next normal” plan that specifies a metric for calling an end to the pandemic: 165 U.S. deaths per day from all major respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.2
On May 4, 2023, the COVID19 Emergency Committee met for the 15th time and recommended that an end to the public health emergency be declared.
COVID-19 is over as a global health emergency. Yet, issues remain.
Is it Really Over?
The end of a pandemic is as much a political act as biological reality.
It is over not simply when case counts or deaths are reduced to some objectively determined acceptable level but also when, and if, the public accepts the stories that politicians and health officials tell about it.
As most Americans are now seemingly indifferent about the pandemic, it has ended in the United States without ever actually being narratively concluded.3
Crisis and More Crisis
Listen to the news and you’ll be convinced we live in a constant state of crisis: supply chain, shortages; gun violence; political polarization; global conflicts; climate change; hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires; etc.4
Character in a Crisis
Ethics, values, and character particularly emerge in how crises are managed.
To face a crisis with a strong moral character involves encountering crisis in such a way as to find the strength to “keep calm and carry on,” as the World War II adage encouraged. A caring responsiveness engages virtues of compassion and empathy.
Each one of us can accept the challenge to live lives of good character.4
Healing a Fractured World
Disagreements among people are a natural part of the human experience. But when we lose sight of what we are arguing for or who we are arguing with, disagreements can have larger, longer-lasting effects.
Media, leadership, and bias all influence our perception of issues and those who disagree with us, a concern which can lead to critical rifts in society, as well as emotional and physical effects on our individual health.
This is a call for healing. A fractured bone heals with proper treatment.5
Media Amplification
The perception (or misperception) of what others think and believe is a significant contributor to the crisis.
The really bad, extreme stories get reported because that’s what makes news. However, the sound bites, shouting voices, and extreme positions often misrepresent what people actually believe.
They are the loudest voices that produce the strongest reaction. And the more we see these examples the more we normalize them and assume that’s how everything (or everyone) is.5
An Identity Crisis
In today’s society, people tend to conform their thoughts and beliefs to align with what we see on social media. When we imitate others, we sacrifice our unique character and individual self.
The good news is that we don’t have to conform to the identity and beliefs of others; we can maintain our own uniqueness by being diligent about what we see online and taking simple steps to maintain our individual identity.6
Any life might find itself in a real mess or stuck in a small place or burdened with dull tasks. But a life is not the mess it finds itself in.
If we are going to handle a crisis well, we need to see the moment clearly; make judgments wisely; and act reasonably and responsibly.7
Responding with Character
If we are going to work together and find common ground again, good character is vital to the process.
Society is fractured, stressed by misinformation, media amplification, failures in leadership, and our own fears and biases.
By recommitting to virtues of character like civility, compassion, and humility, we can start to make positive changes to overcome these fractures.5
Building Character at Work
Business is also in a crisis. Even companies with good reputations are feeling the staffing sting.
The increasing prevalence of toxic workplaces calls for both employees and employers of good character to consider whether their values line up with those of the organization and take steps to correct the course of their company culture.8
Conclusion
When will the pandemic really be over? The pandemic was declared officially over in 2023, but many remain in crisis mode. We are in a transitional period where the aftereffects are quite difficult. This includes not only the lingering symptoms of a viral infection (i.e. long haul syndrome or post-acute COVID), but also the mental health issues, along with a host of issues at home, work and in the world. Recognizing and facing these issues with a positive attitude is a challenge. Hopefully this article has provided some clarity.
References
- Cucinotta, D and M Vanelli (2020), ‘WHO Declares COVID-19 a Pandemic.’, Acta Biomed, 91 (1), 157-60. PubMed: 32191675
- Wadman, M (2022), ‘When is a pandemic officially ‘over’, Science, 375 (6585), 1077-78. PubMed: 35271317
- McCoy, CA (2023), ‘How does the pandemic end? Losing control of the COVID-19 pandemic illness narrative.’, Glob Public Health, 18 (1), 2195918. PubMed: 37054445
- Ward, A (2022), ‘Character and Crisis’, 8
- Thomas, J (2022), ‘Healing a Fractured World’, Character and. Crisis, 8 12-27.
- Hein, M (2022), ‘Social influencers: FOMO and identity crisis’, Character and Chrisis, 63-80.
- Williams, MAE (2022), ‘Surviving a Crisis by Not Being an Idiot’, Character and Crisis, 8 81-94.
- Grace, MA (2022), ‘Character and crisis: Toxic workplaces and culture change’, Character and Crisis, 8 44-62.
Published July 13, 2024
About the Author
Dr. Ronald Steriti is a graduate of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and currently is researcher for Jonathan V. Wright at the Tahoma Clinic and Meridian Valley Lab.
Dr. Steriti has published several books on natural health research.