The COVID-19 outbreak has even our cats, dogs and fish surprised at the change in routine.
It’s been reported through news outlets such as CNN that the coronavirus outbreak in the United States has affected thousands of people in the United States on a daily basis.
With the increasing of the virus, this has caused 42 states out of the 50 states in the United States to follow the rules of social distancing and the urge to stay home.
As reported in The New York Times on April 20, “316 million people in at least 42 states, three counties, 10 cities, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are being urged to stay home”, which is 95% of the population in the United States.
With staying home, families are forced to adapt to their familiar surroundings, but this current situation is “allowing families to demonstrate new lifestyle habits”, said Terry Moss, 57, a maintenance supervisor for the city of Franklin, Indiana.
The coronavirus pandemic has significantly prompted numerous American families to not only stay at home but work from home as well.
A newly-wedded wife, Courtney Pierre, 25, who lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana, works as a recruiter at the Mixed Staff Recruiting, in Grand Rapids. Due to the stay-at-home order issued in both Michigan and Indiana, Pierre, explained how her family financial situation is stable because new they have new projects and her family has always been financial responsible.
Courtney Pierre, 25, Fort Wayne, Ind. gives advice for individuals
dealing with the “staying at home” on April 19,2020.
A few weeks ago, Pierre was forced to adapt to her new work-home environment, and she said it’s been easy because her boss was “well-aware of the stay at home order weeks ahead, which caused her to create a task list that would keep workers occupied for the months ahead.”
Meanwhile, in the state of Indiana, Pierre isn’t the only individual adjusting to this new order. Family man and hard-working husband, Terry Moss, spoke about how some financial hardships his family is going through at this time. He said they had to switch their normal routine. Sometimes they have to substitute grocery items they normally get with what’s available. Even though staying at home and social distancing for a month wasn’t ideal, these two and their families are growing accustomed to it.
On March 26, 2020, CNBC reported that The United States Senate passed $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill in where many citizens will receive $1200, and families will receive $500 per child.
Shine FM Radio Host and father Dan Debord, 51, said that with this deal “immediately, the benefit they can get is to get the utilities paid, to make sure those can keep a roof on their head.” Although Debord emphasized that people must be strategic because given the size of the family, you may only have enough for one month’s rent or mortgage.
Aside the stimulus deal, Debord underlines that family shouldn’t see environmental and financial change as a discouragement rather they should see it pleasure because “emotionally, it brought a lot of families together.”
Statistics From The EconoFact Network
- Both parents and their children have reported a deterioration in their mental health since the start of the crisis.
- Only 45% of those who have been laid off have applied for Unemployment Insurance (UI)
- Only 4% of those who have been laid off have received any Unemployment Insurance (despite the waiting period being waived)
- Only 51% currently receive SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps)
