Author: Holden Weisman

COVID-19 has changed lives in many ways. Based on early data from our COVID-19 survey, it appears that these changes are not all bad. People are enjoying family time, cooking, and more. They are also transitioning to telecommuting and changing their preferred modes of travel, trends that are expected to stick around in the long term. Overall, the majority of people indicate they may want some aspects of life under the pandemic to continue even after COVID-19 is gone.

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have a significant impact on our daily lives even after the virus itself is less of a threat. Our comprehensive survey of Chicagoans shows implications for how people will work and travel, and how governments should handle future pandemics. A need for flexible, effective policies that address both health concerns and social needs such as equity and environmentalism are strongly recommended.