The New Normal

I recently heard someone say that this was the new normal.  I've heard this a lot recently and there are 2 responses that are quite distinct.  One group of Left leaning friends has said that because the current situation is the new normal, we should just go back to the old way of doing things and not try to do things to minimize the harm.  But that's not what this person, the new Governor of NY, was saying.  Instead, they were saying that we must adapt... not return to life as usual but find a way to deal with the new normal in a way that minimizes the threats we face.

That's right, this post is about comparing COVID-19 to climate change.  

There are long term efforts and short term efforts that can be applied to each.  At this point we can't just work on the long term efforts to reduce the harm of climate change.  We have to also focus on mitigation of the changing patterns.  Places like New York need to accept that there will be a lot of flooding in the near future and must shore up various resources, such as trains, against such flooding.  Places like Louisiana have already put in place some precautions as has been seen in the recent hurricane, but there's a lot more to be done there too, with further flooding prevention as well as the power grid.  We must do these things to mitigate the harm.  And those who have been saying we must stop our precautions against COVID-19 would argue just that.

Much in the same light, we must adapt to COVID-19.  That doesn't mean you give up on life.  We can live life without living it in the most risky way possible.  We can reduce the frequency with which we gather with others so that we minimize the chance of unknowingly spreading COVID-19.  We can reduce the risk within those gatherings by taking various precautions.  And we can work on developing better ways of living with COVID-19.  We can work on updating buildings and practices to reduce the potential spread instead of just going back to those same buildings and practices we used to have.  We can do all these things while accepting that we have a lot of work ahead of us before we have a chance of actually removing COVID-19 from our lives, if that is indeed possible.... much as climate change may not be reversible but we should still try to stop its escalation.

If this is the new normal, shouldn't we adapt to the "new" part of it?