Is the Coronavirus beginning the breakdown of our society?

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Specializes in ER.

Doesn't it feel like this might be a very rocky time for humanity? Our healthcare system already felt like it was stressed to the max, and then this virus came along to bring it to its knees.

And now the general economy is becoming unraveled. The intricate web of the global economy seems to be quickly falling to pieces.

I hope a societal breakdown isn't on the horizon.

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

I totally agree.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

I hope a societal breakdown isn't on the horizon also, but as they say, something's gotta give!

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I already see signs like people becoming paranoid and short tempered. I also see people who don't social distance at all anymore. It is an ugly time in our history. Just think how bad this could be right now if our economy wasn't good when this all started.

Crime and looting are what happens when order breaks down. I hope it doesn't come to that. Please keep observing for signs of a breakdown in case you need to take action to protect yourselves.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Look to 80’s British film “Threads” (Nuclear Holocaust) details the fragility of human society/existence. I was just commenting to a close confidant in the ED the other day...if we are falling apart after a few weeks of “staying in” then we should all take extreme notice of how our “systems” pale in comparison to Mother Nature...

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Specializes in OB.

The beginning? I think that started quite some time ago, but I'm cynical. This crisis is definitely pushing humanity to multiple breaking points.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I see some of that. But I want to point out that I am seeing unprecedented levels of community, kindness, altruism and concern for others. The outreach efforts where I live is ramping up. There are food drives, being run very safely and efficiently. Donations of child care to healthcare workers and other essential employees. People bring lunch to us every single day here at the hospital. My husband and I are eating out once a week (curbside takeout) to try to help bolster local businesses and every single time, each one we have ordered from, has been pretty busy when we pull up to pick up our food.

I went out for a walk last night. There were TONS of people on the street walking. People were smiling at one another. Waving. One guy came out of his house just so he could say hello to people as they went by. My husband has taken to walking our dog in the morning on a route that takes him by the local daycare center that is still doing childcare for first responders and healthcare workers. The kids rush to the fence and want to talk to him and the dog and its become a daily thing. The sense of relief and joy in pretty much everyone as they took solace in simply greeting one another from a distance was remarkable.

Yes, there are breakdowns happening, but the minute I get off social media, I can see where good things are happening too. I sincerely recommend it. It seriously helps.

Here's an article published today on how this situation may change our society long-term. Whether this is the end of all things kind of just depends on which way you are looking at any given moment.

https://www.MSN.com/en-us/news/world/what-will-our-new-normal-feel-like-hints-are-beginning-to-emerge/ar-BB12Z1Kx?li=BBnb7Kz

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

I also see some human kindness where I live and am grateful for that. Unfortunately my pessimistic side says that won't last very long and esp depending on how long the outbreak and off work orders last. People will start to get desperate and desperate people do things they ordinarily would not.

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Specializes in ER.

I'm also worried about the solvency of our healthcare system, government, and the public.

The government is handing out money it doesn't have, since it's totally in debt. The hospitals in my region are really hurting since volumes are down because of this. I'm wondering if the whole system is really at risk.

It was really globalism that got this started in the first place. We've all gotten used to traveling all over the world. That's really what started previous pandemics such as the Black Plague, the Spanish flu Etc.

The Earth is starting to crack under the strain of human population. People have gotten so good at exploiting the environment, creating luxuries, our standard of living is unprecedented. I don't see how this can be sustained indefinitely.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.
38 minutes ago, Emergent said:

I'm also worried about the solvency of our healthcare system, government, and the public.

The government is handing out money it doesn't have, since it's totally in debt. The hospitals in my region are really hurting since volumes are down because of this. I'm wondering if the whole system is really at risk.

It was really globalism that got this started in the first place. We've all gotten used to traveling all over the world. That's really what started previous pandemics such as the Black Plague, the Spanish flu Etc.

The Earth is starting to crack under the strain of human population. People have gotten so good at exploiting the environment, creating luxuries, our standard of living is unprecedented. I don't see how this can be sustained indefinitely.

This is all true. Unfortunately we have become a society of me me me, what I want I am entitled to, this attitude doesnt work in times like this when people are expected to make some sacrifices. I remember my grandparents telling me stories of rationing during the war, they had ration books with stamps (much like blue/green chip stamp books), they used only what they needed and shared, the whole country came together and made what was needed, helped others, and all made sacrifices for the good of the country. Our standard of living is unprecedented indeed.

As far as the hospitals go, the admin should have stated planning how to respond, moving people around etc so there would not be layoffs/furloughs etc. Seems like it is always the staff that get the short end.

I am also worried about solvency of the gov. Not sure where all this money is coming from, I think our younger and future generations will be paying for it a very long time.

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54 minutes ago, Emergent said:

I'm also worried about the solvency of our healthcare system, government, and the public.

The government is handing out money it doesn't have, since it's totally in debt. The hospitals in my region are really hurting since volumes are down because of this. I'm wondering if the whole system is really at risk.

It was really globalism that got this started in the first place. We've all gotten used to traveling all over the world. That's really what started previous pandemics such as the Black Plague, the Spanish flu Etc.

The Earth is starting to crack under the strain of human population. People have gotten so good at exploiting the environment, creating luxuries, our standard of living is unprecedented. I don't see how this can be sustained indefinitely.

Don't take this the wrong way. But from a cold, scientific view, the virus is a thing of nature that's sole reason for existence is to kill people. Since our life expectancy has gone way up from advances in medicine and technology, there are fewer natural controls on our global populations. This in turn has put a strain on available resources. The virus is nature's way of controlling that. I, as a member of the human population, don't like it as much as a gazelle doesn't like being slaughtered by the lion. It's just one cruel side to nature.

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Specializes in ER.

I believe this virus is just a taste of things to come. It's not really that virulent compared to something like Ebola. It's just picking off the weaker members of the herd. Most people skate by pretty well who get it.

Eventually something will come along that will really be devastating.

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