Cliff’s Take: What We Are Hoping For Post-COVID

We are 51 weeks into our COVID world. The “before” seems so distant now. Are we out of it yet? No, but vaccinations are up, and reported cases are down. All good signs.

Remember a time when people hugged, kissed, and greeted each other physically?  When we looked at people in the face without a mask?  Humans are social animals; we need and crave physical contact and visual interaction.

Going without it grates on us, frays us at the edges, and wears down our emotional and mental health.

But again, hope springs eternal. Someday, the pandemic will be in the past tense—a distant memory. For me, the sooner, the better.

Below are some of the most relevant data points of the week.

1. Human interaction. Again, humans are social creatures. We want to put the virus behind us. What does that mean? Interacting with our fellow humans in open space—spending time with friends and family. Yes, it’s the simple things that matter. 

    

2. Hope and burnout. America sees the light at the end of the tunnel, but we all carry COVID baggage. Look at the data.  We are both hopeful and burnt out at the same time.  This is what a war waged against a virus feels like. 

    

3. Post-COVID flexibility. Many of us miss our co-workers. It’s those social ties that make us feel whole. But looking forward, normal for us comes with a caveat; America wants flexibility in the workplace. So, “yes” to seeing coworkers— just not every day. 

    

4. Same trend; different places. Let’s make a cross-Atlantic comparison. One year out from the start of the pandemic, our tracking data records a rise in trust in the US federal government. The trendline resembles that of growing confidence in the NHS in the UK— though different questions, different countries, and different contexts.

    

5. Back to law and order. As I mentioned to USA Today, “unless we have acute crises bringing racial injustice to the forefront, like the killing of George Floyd, our collective default is ‘law and order.’” Look at the data. How easily we forget our past. 

    

For a further debrief on America one year in to the pandemic, listen in to my March 15th webinar with Chris Jackson.

As always, be safe, and be sane.

For more information, please contact:

Clifford Young
President, U.S.
Public Affairs
+1 202 420-2016
[email protected]

For more information on COVID-19 please click here

About Ipsos

Ipsos is the world’s third largest Insights and Analytics company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.

Our research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75 business solutions are based on primary data coming from our surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or observational techniques.

“Game Changers” — our tagline — summarizes our ambition to help our 5,000 clients to navigate more easily our deeply changing world.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP