Social Distancing: Right now, perseverance is required!

This is the ninth week after the onset of coronavirus-related restrictions. The initial, predominant understanding gives way to increasing irritability and the desire to finally return to normal conditions. In shared apartments, in social media, and also when talking on the phone with relatives, the sometimes controversial discussions revolve around the question of the necessity and, above all, the appropriate degree of restrictions in all our lives.

Royalty-Free Stock Photos about Social Distancing
© Tania Cervián/Westend61


Some even see the orders as an expression of state despotism and loudly voice their displeasure at anti-lockdown demonstrations. An old man bursts into tears during an interview on camera. He said he has not seen his wife, who was admitted to a nursing home in February, for eight weeks when he used to visit her every day – undoubtedly a great emotional burden. An angry man in his mid-forties bellows from the side that anyone who deals with the media that record the interview can immediately write off his life. The old man calmly responds to him that it doesn’t work that way either…

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Social Distancing – the Image trend that wasn’t supposed to be one!

Yahoos devalue justified criticism

You can see: Some people have reason to be critical; others just let their anger run wild. In the worst-case scenario, the latter are taken in by the conspiracy theories of some Z celebrities, whose mental health must be seriously doubted in view of the crude nonsense they spread. Such yahoos of all shapes and sizes drown out and even devalue voices like the old man’s, which deserve to be heard and taken seriously. No doubt, despite many examples of solidarity, consideration, and cohesion, the burdens of the past weeks have not simply changed our society for the better.

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© Eloisa Ramos/Westend61

Even if a silver lining of hope is on the horizon and the worst seems to have been averted for the time being, we will still be required to maintain discipline in our interpersonal dealings with each other. 

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© Alba Vitta/Westend61

After all, social distancing is still our most important tool for containing the pandemic, and this is as true now as it was nine weeks ago; easing restrictions is by no means the same as ending the threat of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s a bit of a paradox that just when the rationale behind the lockdown is confirmed in a decline in infection rates, visible to all, social support for the restrictions is beginning to crumble.

Royalty-Free Stock Photos about Social Distancing
© Eloisa Ramos/Westend61

Social motivation is key

Why is it that the success of the restrictions does not motivate many people to persevere any longer, but rather seems to feed resentment and frustration? Psychologists would probably explain it in terms of people needing to have confidence in the purpose of drastic government measures in order to accept them. Only then can they muster the motivation needed to take on the burdens associated with such cuts. Fortunately, the number of new infections is now falling, but this makes it difficult to maintain this motivation, especially as many fear for their economic livelihood.

© Blend Images/Kateryna Soroka/Westend61

It should be clearly reiterated: The emerging containment of the pandemic is not an indication that the lockdowns are unnecessary, but rather a result of them and thus proof of the restrictions’ effectiveness. This is a success and a credit to the millions of people who have renounced many things in recent weeks and continue to do so. They may have grumbled a lot, many of them may be worried about their economic future, but in the end their solidarity with the risk groups triumphed over all selfish sentiments. It is precisely in their isolation that people have achieved an awesome collective result. Its value is not diminished by the fact that it was achieved within the framework of state orders, but rather this achievement is a strong signal of humanity that gives courage for the future.

Images of the “new normal”

So our appeal to all those who feel alone in these difficult times, who are frustrated, and to all those who think that the lockdown and social distancing are exaggerated rubbish: It’s only when we all pull together, show consideration for each other, protect each other, and see each one of us as part of a larger whole that we continue, step by step, to get closer to the light at the end of the tunnel.

royalty-free images of social distance
© Eloisa Ramos/Westend61

At the same time, however, we do not want to forget to gradually reclaim our everyday lives within the bounds of possibility – even if we do this together, but apart. What could it look like, the oft-spoken of “new normal”? I don’t think that any of us exactly know yet. But our photographers have already given it a lot of thought and have used their cameras to turn it into a series of fresh images. In this Lightbox with royalty-free images we show a selection of these works, all of which have a new sense of community as their subject: a social cohesion never before experienced, the strength of which lies precisely in staying apart.

Sebastian Bentzin

For over ten years Sebastian works in the digital media field. The Hamburg-based social media manager combines his professional background with his interest in photography contributing to the Westend61 outlets.