It was this month last year that the pandemic first began having a permanent mark on the world. March 2021 was marked by the closure of academic institutions and the implication of lockdowns. A year later, we are not very far from that situation, with schools closed till April 11 and smart lockdowns being imposed nationwide.

Over the course of this time we have seen fluctuations in almost every aspect of life. From the economy to everyday recreational activities, the pandemic took a toll on all things. The most tragic loss of all was the people we lost along the way. An estimated 2,759,197 people have died in the pandemic world over. Out of these, 14,028 were Pakistanis. While the majority recovered after contracting the virus, its impact on their health varied from mild to drastic. The numbers are still swelling.

There has been a vast amount of learning on this journey. Hospitals and health institutions have adapted themselves remarkably to dealing with symptoms of Covid-19. Vaccines are finally being administered to the most vulnerable. Over the year, Covid-19 safety standard operating procedures have become second nature to most urban citizens. Whether one is walking into a grocery store, a shopping mall, or a university, one is first greeted by a pump of hand sanitiser.

If a single phenomenon characterised this year it was the trend for adaptation to what was popularly termed the “new normal”. Education institutions adapted by shifting to online classes, homework and examinations. Businesses accustomed to personal visits took to home deliveries. Restaurants turned to car dining and cinemas to drive-in.

A year into the pandemic it seems that these SOPs and precautionary measures have become an irksome reminder of what the world used to be like before the breakout of the dreadful pandemic. People have slowly started turning back to the old normal with large weddings making a comeback across the country. However, with the third wave of the pandemic raging, it is imperative not to lose sight of reality and be safe.