As the Omicron variant sends ripples throughout the U.S., the population is developing pandemic fatigue. Masks, vaccines, and social distancing policies have been difficult for everyone. But, while disturbing, these are only the tip of the COVID-19 iceberg. The pandemic has relentlessly attacked the economic and social system, profoundly damaging and transforming the status quo. As the health debate is likely to carry on for a long time, the new social and economic situation will affect many generations of Americans for much longer. 

Indeed, periods of multiple lockdowns, shutdowns, and self-isolation have dramatically reshaped millions of households' budgets and expectations. The global situation made individuals vulnerable to new social convictions, financial traps, and devastating hardships. Unfortunately, there are no significant signs of improvement for those affected by the non-health-related consequences of the pandemic. Their issues are too easily overlooked. However, as the social and economic challenges continue to grow, they are beginning to tear the U.S. society apart.

Many homeowners have faced mortgage issues

The pandemic has affected homeowners dramatically. Global circumstances have forced countless companies to temporarily or permanently shut down at the start of the pandemic. At the time, many employees received support and financial assistance through federal aid and furlough arrangements. However, the country has experienced multiple bouts of pandemic since March 2020, making it hard for homeowners to secure a budget. Even though moratoriums have been instrumental in providing dedicated support to homeowners, individuals who have faced an unstable financial situation since the start of the pandemic have been unable to catch up with money problems. 

As a result, some homeowners have accumulated debts and been unable to meet payment deadlines. Banks have long stopped showing patience and understanding for those who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments. The pandemic economic hardship is pushing many homeowners to seek debt relief for their mortgage debts. It can take only a few months of missed payments for a money-lender to take action and put a loan in default. The number of homeowners facing the forced sale of their property is growing due to the lack of effective financial support during the pandemic. As a legal bankruptcy and debt expert, Leinart Law shares how foreclosures work. The law firm also explains how homeowners can protect their homes with the help of an expert, even when they have received a notice of foreclosure. However, despite legal help, many homeowners are left without a home. 

Pandemic loans still need to be repaid

While America often prides itself on its independence, the pandemic has shown just how economically connected the U.S. and other countries around the world are. Products disappeared from shelves at the start of the pandemic as global activities came to a standstill. While the situation could have driven a boom for American Made products to replace their international counterparts, the reality was different. Consumer good purchases dropped, which affected business profits and, in turn, employment rates and employees' wages. According to the Census Bureau data, pandemic hardships carry on for households, affecting access to food, housing, and employment. The American Rescue Plan, introduced in March 2021, included $1,400 payments for Americans. Unfortunately, many struggling households fell between the gaps and were not able to receive enough support. Nearly 12 million tenants are behind on rent and face risks of eviction. Approximately 20 million adult households are not getting enough to eat. 

Additionally, many households have sought support from money-lenders at the start of the pandemic. Unfortunately, loans taken during or before the pandemic are due for repayment. Yet, the pandemic hardships have been left mostly unaddressed by the American government in 2020. The actions taken by President Biden in 2021 are beneficial, but they arrive too late to help millions of households. 

A radical change in consumer behavior

The pandemic has been an unprecedented logistics event for the supply chain management. Consumers experienced shortages at the start of the pandemic, as popular items such as toilet paper and hand sanitizers virtually flew off the shelves too quickly to be replaced. While 2020 might remain in history as the Year of the Great Toilet Paper Debacle, it also exposed the challenges of supply chains. Supply chain logistics rely on historic data for planning and forecasting. Yet, consumer behavior recorded in March 2019 could not help plan a pandemic.

Consequently, the world saw the most significant large scale disruption in supply chain management. The pandemic drove stocking behaviors to face the risk of self-isolation. However, the sudden change in consumer behavior fuelled panic buying, resulting in substantial shortages affecting every household. However, as the pandemic situation lingers, consumer behaviors are expected to change again. Unfortunately, with no pre-existing data for guidance, we can expect disruption in the supply chain management again, involving shortages of different products and overstocks of unsold products. In the long term, unsold and sold-out articles are likely to fuel new shopping behaviors as the population learns to live in a post-pandemic world.   

A sudden increase in energy bills

Americans want to carry on working from home. According to a CBS News Poll, 60% of U.S. employees describe their ideal working situation as working predominantly from home, either as a sole work location or a hybrid with the office. However, staying at home comes at a high cost in terms of energy usage. Indeed, most American homes are energy vampires compared to homes in Europe. The typical U.S. household consumes twice as much energy per home. Households spent nearly $6 billion on extra electricity between April and July 2020. Long-term home office arrangements are likely to bring energy bills much higher during the winter months. 

Unfortunately, American employees are not ready to give up on the comfort, safety, and work/life balance they enjoy at home. Productivity and creativity have been on the rise for home-based workers during the pandemic. More and more employees are considering work options that embrace 100% remote arrangements. However, in the long term, the U.S. needs to rethink housing to tackle energy waste, carbon footprint, and debilitating costs for the population. Remote work could become a post-pandemic game-changer to secure talent from around the country or even the world. But households can face huge disparities in energy efficiency, leading to energy poverty and further budget issues. 

The vaccine divide and how it affects relationships

As of September 2021, 73% of American adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Unfortunately, Americans who have not received the vaccine explain they don't have any confidence in the vaccine and the research process. Many feel there is too much pressure on the American population to get a COVID-19 vaccine and worry Public health officials are hiding vital information about the vaccines. 

Over three-quarters of non-vaccinated Americans feel negative about wearing masks. 

Similar trust patterns exist around the world. Unfortunately, unvaccinated individuals are more at risk of catching the virus and requiring medical assistance. Hospitals find it difficult to support the population when a large number of their beds are occupied by non-vaccinated individuals. The move to make vaccination mandatory for large employers, governmental organizations, and healthcare institutions faces a negative backlash in public opinion. While the vaccine divide is not new and has appeared throughout the year regarding other vaccination programs, it is the first time that vaccine beliefs could literally mean a life or death sentence for the person who refuses the vaccine and those they come in contact with. In the long term, it isn't hard to imagine a micro-society dedicated to the unvaccinated population if future vaccine regulations prevent them from accessing employment, accommodation, and day-to-day services. Should the refusal to receive COVID-19 vaccines cause social and economic poverty to the individual? The logical answer is no, but the pandemic approach may force governments to disregard vaccine belief for the sake of survival. 

Anti-vaxxers have already taken action to protect themselves and preserve their rights to decide. Unjected, a dating site created by two friends in Hawaii, has faced issues with the app and social media display. The Instagram account was suspended, and the Apple app store removed the app for COVID misinformation. However, the fervent anti-vaxxer supporters are not swayed by their digital hardship. On the contrary, Unjected and thousands of other organizations promoting an unvaccinated lifestyle have built an online website presence to share their views and convince others. We can't help but imagine the potential creation of a recluse dystopian anti-vaxxer society, which would be completely cut off from the current American society. Will there be separate dating, employment, bank, and real estate opportunities designed to target vaccinated and unvaccinated people? 

In conclusion, it becomes difficult to talk about post-pandemic positivity. Despite the significant progress made during the pandemic in terms of healthcare and smart tech innovations, the coronavirus pandemic has torn apart the foundations of U.S. society. Financial stability, social cooperation, and self-preservation are put at risk by the rise of post-pandemic uncertainties. It is time for the U.S. to rethink its approach to the economy, employment, shopping, and healthcare to fix the dramatic social schism caused by the multiple pandemic hardships.