Summary

The United States had hoped that industries (and life in general) would be “back to normal” by now after being impacted by COVID-19.  Society has endured this global pandemic for over six months, and while there have been improvements and efforts to allow certain businesses to reopen, there is no clear end in sight.

Current Events 

Recent trends confirm that the impacts from COVID-19 will continue.  While death rates in states like New York^[1] and Arizona^[2] are decreasing, states like Georgia^[3] and Florida^[4] are seeing climbing infection rates.  Local hotspots like Danbury, Connecticut, have emerged,^[5] and eight states (thus far) have had spikes in cases caused by the large Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota.^[6]  In response, some states and local governments are implementing controls.  For example, Illinois is taking some preventative safety measures,^[7] and Oahu, Hawaii issued a two-week lockdown to address increasing infection rates.^[8] 

The important point is that COVID-19 is expected to impact businesses for the remainder of 2020 and perhaps into 2021, and those impacts will be volatile, as local circumstances change. 

What Can Your Business Do? 

Despite the uncertainty about what COVID-19 impacts will look like and how long they will last, businesses can take proactive steps to try to mitigate COVID-19’s long-term effect.  

Conclusion 

COVID-19 regulations and impacts are expected to continue through 2021, so businesses that take the time to implement practical solutions that allow them to continue their operations as efficiently as possible will have a competitive advantage in these uncertain times. 

The impacts of COVID-19 on businesses and our society continue to change and develop.

^{[1] See, e.g.,  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/new-york-coronavirus-cases.html}

^{[2] See, e.g.,  https://www.foxnews.com/health/arizona-drop-coronavirus-cases-deaths}

^{[3] See, e.g.,  https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/us/georgia-covid-19-cases-white-house-task-force-recommendations/index.html}

^{[4] See, e.g.,  https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article245261405.html}

^{[5] See, e.g.,  https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/gov-lamont-to-hold-news-conference-amid-covid-19-spike-in-danbury/2323547/}

^{[6] See, e.g.,  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-sturgis-motorcycle-rally-south-dakota-over-100-cases-8-states/}

^{[7] See, e.g.,  https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ban-on-indoor-service-at-bars-restaurants-in-southwest-il-to-return-as-covid-increases/ar-BB18koj5 and https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-will-kankakee-crackdown-20200824-joflogsa3rhinlkhdo2v4ntlg4-story.html}

^{[8] See, e.g.,  https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/08/25/list-retailers-gyms-salons-will-all-have-close-under-citys-new-stay-at-home-order/}