This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing has become a new reality, turning life and markets on their heads.
On May 6, 2020, Ng'ang'a Mbugua, the Managing Editor of the Business Daily, observed the effects of social distancing firsthand during a visit to his local sports club.
"Things have become very difficult," an elderly man sitting on the next bench said, looking in Mbugua's direction.
"Very true," Mbugua replied, thinking about the workers who had lost their jobs or those who, like him, had taken a pay cut.
According to Mbugua, social distancing has disrupted the traditional segmentation of life into work, social, and domestic spheres, creating a new social and cultural milieu.
As people work from home, the boundaries between these spheres have become blurred, leading to an oversupply of people in the household and a corresponding rise in demand for domestic goods and services.
However, this has also disrupted the freedoms of movement and association enshrined in the Constitution, creating a new set of challenges for frontline health workers.
As Mbugua noted, the effects of social distancing on the relationship between urban workers and their rural relatives and dependants are also worth studying.
He shared a personal anecdote about a nephew who gave him a suspicious eye and walked away when Mbugua tried to say hello, highlighting the challenges of adapting to new social norms.
As the world continues to heal, it is essential to study the effects of social distancing on various aspects of society and to find ways to mitigate its negative impacts.
