A year ago this month
A year ago this month, nobody heard of Covid-19. According to most sources, the 1st case did not appear until Nov 17th 2019.
For a long time people were talking about Covid-19 will have run its course by the end of this year. Well, obviously that is not going to happen. Covid-19 is with us to stay. This is the new normal.
So, in my opinion we must re-invent a new style of culture.
Certainly we must continue to wear a mask whenever we are in public. Dining/drinking
indoors is likely to be very hazardous for a very long time. However, I believe that dining al fresco is probably safe provided we don't sit shoulder to shoulder with others. A semi-windy day offers an excellent opportunity to dine with family/friends.
Obviously, hugging, kissing loved ones is, for the foreseeable future... out. The same for shaking hands. (God, how I hate bumping fists.)
What about face-to-face visits with family/friends? Well, I believe that the same applies here as I mentioned above.
I see no problem with visitations on your front/back porch/patio. (with masks, of course). Actually seeing the people you care about is very much better than phone conversations. We get so much info from body language.
Everyone knows that our various countries economies have taken a huge hit. Not everyone can afford to spend lavishly, but for those of us who can do so, I recommend that we buy goods/services that are produced in our own countries. Provided enough people do so, even small purchases help our countries economies.