Things that “weren’t possible” before COVID-19

COVID-19 has radically changed how we live, communicate and work.

The need to stay physically apart has forced us to do a lot of things we wouldn’t normally do. Interestingly, a lot of those things were previously “unthinkable”, and there was “absolutely no way we can do/afford/consider thing x”. 

To be totally clear, this post is by no means saying COVID-19 is a good thing. It’s caused tragedy and hardship for many. However, just as the loss of a close one can make us think about how we live our lives, crisis can lead us to rethink what is normal and what is possible.

So here’s a short list of things that we’ve often been told are impossible, until COVID-19 happened: 

• Housing the homeless by making hotels to put them up in unused rooms .
• Remote working for a vastly larger set of jobs and employees.
• Quasi-UBI for those who needs it.
• An enormous reduction in unnecessary air travel.
• Huge reductions in air pollution.