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  By Sammi Wu (Taiwan) 文:吴家心(台湾)  Embracing Change in the Age of the Pandemic 拥抱疫情后的改变 Two years since the emergence of COVID-19, the pandemic has rocked economies worldwide and completely transformed our lives. 持续两年多的疫情,改变了世界与 经济的发展,更改变了我们的生活 常态。 When COVID-19 first emerged at the end of 2019, what was thought to be a simple viral infection at first soon unexpectedly blossomed into a major pandemic of unimaginable proportions in 2020. The world changed overnight. Even today in 2022, we can nary afford to let our guard down. The pandemic has had a major impact on all aspects of people’s lives. Infections not only damage the health of some patients permanently, but some fall severely ill and face life-threatening circumstances. Across the globe, cities have been locked down and borders have been closed to prevent the spread of the disease. Economies have been gravely affected and the ability to travel freely has evaporated. Economic activities have also undergone major changes, such as the rise of working from home, the sharp drop in customers patronising brick-and-mortar stores, and the boom of online businesses. Embracing New Possibilities Although the adverse impact of the pandemic is undeniable, with the reduction in human and economic activity, our ecological impact also decreased, giving the environment some room to breathe. In truth, it has been humbling. Under the massive scale of such trying times, humankind seems 32 - popularnews 139 


































































































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