The question I get asked from small business owners the most is “When will things be normal again”?

I always answer the same way- “I have no idea when and what normal will look like then”

Normal before March 2020 was:

  • People shopping and gathering in social groups for entertainment
  • The stock market seeming always to go up
  • Teams working in offices
  • Jobs being scarce and salaries high
  • Real estate prices increasing
  • People going to large performances or sporting events

If normal means back to the way it was before COVID-19 hit the US with full force, I think very little of “normal” will happen until the Summer of 2021.

It depends on when a vaccine will be readily available to everyone in the US and if those who have had COVID-19 can be tested as immune. Can we easily test people that are getting sick by measuring temperatures at every public location, and quickly test those who are getting sick. None of this is happening now.

Before these developments, resuming normal activity will depend on how comfortable people will be going out with gloves and a mask on like going to restaurants, shopping in stores and entertainment. All these locations will probably limit occupants so social distancing can occur. Airplanes, restaurants, hotels and movie theaters may only seat 25% of normal capacity. People will go back to the office a few days a week in shifts so its not too crowded. This will all vary by state and location. Unfortunately, politics will play a role as to what happens where. We can we sure there will still be lots of Zoom meetings and time working from home.

Masks and gloves will be standard attire and become a fashion statement through the end of 2020.

Unfortunately, large events will not come back until 2021 when there is a vaccine. There is just too much risk out there for attendees. The business event of 200 people or less may happen in the Fall if we can get creative on seating and how to interact with each other from a distance (masks on).

And during all of this, people will still be getting sick (and some dying), but the goal of all this shelter in place was not necessarily to prevent COVID- 19 sickness over the next 18 months, but to ensure hospitals had enough resources to treat the people that needed the help.

What do you think normal will look like the rest of 2020?