After more than a full year of mask mandates and stay-at-home orders, we are finally starting to see the world begin returning to normal life…or at least something closer than what we have been accustomed to lately.
As mask mandates and other restrictions disappear on a state-by-state basis, we are learning an incredible amount from the more adventurous states about what we can expect when that happens here in California.
So with that in mind, let’s dive in and take a quick look at five things that are happening as other states begin to open up their economies ahead of us.
People Are Ready to Return to Normal
The most obvious takeaway from any state that has relaxed COVID-19 restrictions is that the majority of the residents of that state were more than ready to shed those awful masks.
It’s not just the masks though. People are dying to get some version of their normal lives back, and any chance to do so is something that almost everyone is embracing. That will certainly be the case as we move in that direction here in California.
We Really Miss Big Events
While no one knows for sure how safe or unsafe mass gatherings are going to be in the long run, all it takes is one look at an NBA Playoffs crowd to see that people across the country have really missed attending big events.
Unfortunately, the NBA has also shown us that some people forgot how to act properly when attending those types of events, so while there will likely be people flocking to stadiums and arenas here in California, those same people might not be on their best behavior.
Businesses Aren’t Staffed to Meet Demand
One of the biggest problems that we have seen in reopening states is that many businesses simply do not have the staff to keep up with the influx of demand.
Whether you view excessive unemployment benefits or lingering pandemic concerns as the reason doesn’t really matter, the bottom line is that most businesses are not going to be staffed to handle the run of reopening business headed their way here in the Golden State.
Everyone Has Supply Chain Issues
Another problem that businesses across the country are struggling with regardless of their reopening status is all of the supply chain issues created by the ridiculous number of product shortages impacting almost every industry.
Businesses are having a hard time acquiring raw materials ranging from semiconductor chips for making vehicles to beef or chicken for making dinner…and everything in between.
We will certainly see more of this before conditions begin to improve, so make sure that you aren’t taking your frustrations out on the companies stuck in the middle, because they are surely doing the best that they can given the circumstances.
Some People Aren’t Quite Ready
While the news is constantly showing the huge mass gatherings in reopening states like Florida and Texas, it is worth pointing out that there are still plenty of people all over the country that aren’t quite ready to get back to their pre-pandemic lifestyle.
So while we are likely going to see an economic boom when California is fully open for business, it will probably be years before things are completely restored to what we used to call normal.
