New Normal: How Bangkokians plan to adapt to the post-pandemic lifestyle

Nobody knows when this pandemic will be over. But we know one thing: it has and will continue to change the way we live.

COVID-19 has forced us to take physical distancing very seriously to help flatten the curve. People all across the world have been asked to stay indoors. Businesses that bring people together have been temporarily shut down. Flying is reserved for essential purposes. The IMF has estimated that these scattered lockdowns could drag down the global GDP by three percent in 2020.

It’s been a month since Thailand went on a partial lockdown. Only supermarkets and purveyors of essential goods, and restaurants preparing food for delivery have remained open. Most other businesses, however, have found it difficult to continue operations with limited patronage and mobility. Thus, people have lost their jobs. Salaries have been cut down. The government has had to give “emergency support,” valued at B5,000 each, to more than four million citizens who have been financially affected by the citywide shutdown.

In between trying all possible ways to survive (physically, mentally and emotionally), many have started talking about the possibility of a “new normal”. How will life go on in the future? How will we shop? Will there be concerts? Will e-commerce platforms overtake shopping malls? Will food delivery become a standard for restaurants? There are so many questions waiting to be answered.    

To try and get some answers, Time Out has reached out to representatives from various industries. What they say reveal much about how a city is adapting and planning for a post-pandemic future. 

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