Pandemic has changed everything from school to work to church

After five weeks under stay-at-home orders, many people are looking forward to less stringent restrictions during the coronavirus shutdown. They're also wondering what life will look like when North Carolina returns to "normal."

Posted 12:00 a.m. May 6, 2020 — Updated 12:00 a.m. May 6, 2020

Richard Adkins

, WRAL photojournalist

RALEIGH, N.C. — After five weeks under stay-at-home orders, many people are looking forward to less stringent restrictions during the coronavirus shutdown. They're also wondering what life will look like when North Carolina returns to "normal."

“I think what this virus is teaching people is they need to go out, they need to see people,” Wake Technical Community College librarian Debbie McLain said.

While people can connect online to her library resources, McLain said people need a personal connection that computers and the internet cannot provide,

McLain's husband, Tim McLain, who suffered through a bout of the virus early on, saw two decades ago the need to prepare for online education. So, he started a company working in that direction – something schools closures and remote learning during the pandemic have validated.

"I don't think it's going to change anything in the short term,” he said. "I'm hoping it will change things in the long term."

Most schools are still not ready for remote learning, Tim McLain said.

"Let's make it possible for teachers to be completely comfortable with specific learning systems that's integrated with their kids and that all the kids can have access from home," he said.

WRAL poll: Majority of NC residents fear worst of pandemic still to come

Access from home is something workers need as well.

Gregg Lowe, chief executive of Durham-based technology firm Cree, said that, while working from home isn't for everyone, he sees it as an option benefiting some employees, such as people who need to take care of an elderly parent or a child with special needs.

Lowe has worked from Cree headquarters nearly every day of the pandemic, yet he said he sees the value of more people working from home.

"My opinion has changed on allowing people doing their job from home because it's been way more productive," he said.

Faith in the workforce – and in a higher force – is something to consider in the coming days.

Church sanctuaries have been silent for weeks, with pastors using online services to preach to their congregations. Jennifer Copeland, executive director of the North Carolina Council of Churches, said she thinks the online exposure could be good for religion.

“We hope that some of those folks are maybe going to take a second look at faith traditions,” Copeland said, “and maybe decide that there is something here, and I'll check this local faith community out and see what they are up to."

Rev. Dumas Harshaw, pastor of Raleigh's First Baptist Church, said the the "new normal" can only have one outcome: "If we get through this, which we will, we'll be stronger for the next time."

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