Summary

The article discusses the uncertain timeline for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary measures for a safe return to normalcy.

Abstract

The President & CEO of MACNY, a manufacturing association, addresses the complex question of when society will return to "normal" post-pandemic. He references McKinsey & Company's analysis, which suggests that the impact of COVID-19 will persist, with recovery tied to the deployment of a safe vaccine and adherence to health measures like mask-wearing and social distancing. The article emphasizes the likelihood of annual vaccinations, significant economic changes, and a shift towards virtual interactions, local production, and increased technology use. It calls for leaders and individuals to prepare for a new normal, embrace change, and focus on transitioning to higher-skilled, higher-paying sectors for future growth and success.

Opinions

The author believes that the end of the pandemic is difficult to predict and will require a multifaceted approach including vaccination and continued health measures.
The article suggests that society must adapt to the long-term effects of the pandemic, including potential annual COVID-19 vaccinations similar to the flu.
It posits that the post-pandemic economy will be more virtual, with a preference for locally made products and increased technological integration.
The author is hopeful that the crisis will lead to a transition towards more high-skilled and high-paying jobs, particularly in manufacturing and technology sectors.
The author encourages embracing the new reality, stating that there is no return to the pre-pandemic world, and that acceptance and adaptation are key to future success.
The article conveys optimism about the potential for positive change, suggesting that the challenges of the pandemic can lead to opportunities for community improvement and economic development.

When Will This Pandemic End?

It will take longer than you think to return to “normal”.

In my role as President & CEO of MACNY- The Manufacturers Associaton and as a member of the Central New York Regional Control Board responsible for our safe reopening, I am often asked when I think we will return to more “normal” times.

This is a difficult question to answer. It’s even more challenging to predict what will occur.

Looking at several scenarios can help put into perspective what may come next.

McKinsey & Company has taken a reasoned approach to how the pandemic might end and when. It can be helpful to review the scenarios so we can plan for the future.

It is also useful in encouraging us to continue efforts to remain safe while continuing our economic recovery.

Source: McKinsey & Company Insights — When will the COVID-19 pandemic end?

As you can see in the above analysis by McKinsey & Company, we are likely to be feeling the impacts of COVID-19 for quite some time.

All the scenarios place our recovery in the context of the deployment of a safe and effective vaccine.

However, it would likely rely on continued health measures such as appropriate mask-wearing, social distancing, and ongoing disinfecting.

These key measures increase the chance of keeping the remaining COVID-19 infections in-check as we reach higher states of immunity in our community.

We may also need to have annual vaccinations as we do with the flu if COVID-19 mutates. All of these considerations are likely required to plan for our future.

It’s critical for leaders and team members to prepare for a future with this pandemic’s impacts. Individual and community effects will likely last well after COVID-19 has a vaccine, and we begin to move towards a new normal.

So many things about our lives will remain changed.

Our economy will be more virtual, we are likely to want our products made closer to us, and we will be using more technology than ever.

We can also hope to transition many more jobs to higher-skilled and higher-paying sectors of our economy, such as manufacturing and technology. These changes will likely drive our focus and our investment well into the future.

I encourage all leaders and individuals to start to prepare for a different future than before the pandemic.

There is no going back.

This fact will challenge us and offer new opportunities.

To be successful, we must embrace what we now have, what will likely occur, and what can be accomplished.

The sooner we do so, the more quickly we will thrive.

It has become my focus, and I am hopeful it will also be yours.

Together we can overcome these challenges and build a better community in the future.

To learn more about leadership visit me at www.macny.org.

To get a copy of my book Present-Future Leader go to www.amazon.com.