The worldwide pandemic caused by COVID-19 reverberates throughout society in different modes but with one commonality: shutting everything down. In my Constraint Map, I decided to highlight the themes most talked about in the news. In my interpretation, these themes are the consumer (general society), organizations (government, economy, schools), and production (workforce).
Closely associated with the novel coronavirus is the practice of quarantine. With quarantine, both self-imposed and forced, the areas listed above are greatly affected. In my Constraint Map, I decided to branch off from those ideas based on long-term repercussions associated with the virus. I also tried to focus on aspects of life that are affected but aren’t the first things people think about when they hear the term, “coronavirus.” For example, I included standardized testing students in primary and secondary education have to do to graduate, but which are now all at a loss on what to do. Standardized tests are also essential in helping a student get into schools they are applying to. Another aspect of society I included was the economy. As face-to-face businesses started closing, the American society became more affected. Employees are laid off, temporarily and permanently, small businesses are at risk of foreclosure, and unpaid bills start to pile up from a lack of income. The economy is also headed for a recession. Though economies fluctuate throughout time naturally, this forced downfall of production and stocks are anticipated to affect people in college, such as myself, when we finally enter the workforce. Last, I included the workforce itself and the constraints it’s currently facing. With both my parents working in the healthcare industry, I’ve seen firsthand the toll this pandemic is taking on first responders. My dad, who works at Massachusetts General Hospital, experienced constraints of his own life at work. Recently, his place of work has blocked off all entrances to the building, requiring employees to show their ID at the door for entrance.
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