Service of Signs the Pandemic is in Our Rear View Windows
November 6th, 2023
Categories: Food Trucks, NYC Marathon, Pandemic, Pandemic Over
I saw something last Friday that exemplifies “pandemic over” at least in the minds of some marketers.
Until the Pandemic, 42nd street during lunch hour was a great place for companies to pass out samples of new products such as yogurt, drinks, snacks and the like. That activity stopped during the pandemic and even though the picture isn’t rosy yet, it’s taken a while for marketers to think there are enough people to reach and that pedestrians would be willing to touch/take food or drinks from a stranger. According to New York Post reporter Carl Campanile, “Foot traffic in New York City’s business districts is still down 33% from what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic — one of the lowest recovery rates in the country, a new survey reveals.”
Nevertheless on Friday young people were handing out 2 small bags [photo right, above] on behalf of Deep River Snacks—original sea salt and mesquite BBQ flavored—kettle cooked potato chips. Not bad if you like that style of chip.
A few days later some 50 thousand runners participated in The New York City Marathon and goodness knows how many thousands of spectators cheered them on over the 26.1 miles. Unfortunate timing had me at Columbus Circle where thousands planned to meet their friends [top photo above] with the finish line nearby in Central Park near Tavern on the Green.
While some citizens would never frequent them ever, for quite some time now tourists and New Yorkers have again been buying food from street vendors, some in fancy trucks, others in makeshift setups [photo left, above]. They are all over the place from in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue [photo below] to mid and downtown.
In a headcount of bus passengers on Friday afternoon one of 17 wore a mask. I hardly saw one at a sold-out concert in Alice Tully Hall on Saturday night.
What if any signs have you identified that illustrate the public has turned the page on the Pandemic? Is this a mistake?
Tags: Central Park, Columbus Circle, Deep River Snacks, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tavern on the Green
Linda on Facebook: How few people are getting the newest covid vaccine!
Linda,
I know!!! Excellent point. Maybe some think if they no longer commute or only do part of the week, they’re not exposing themselves as much as before?
This is why our viruses smolder.
Linda on Facebook: Personally I don’t think they’ve given it that much thought. Just covid fatigue! One person I know, who didn’t get newest vaccine, recently got covid again. She’s still not planning to get the vaccine. Makes no sense to me.
Covid fatigue is real…I do have relatives and friends who have contracted it, but not a single one of them has been hospitalized, including an 89-year-old cousin. I’m a little on the fence about yet another booster (2 vaccinations and 3 boosters), but will probably get it even though all 5 kept me in bed for at least 36 hours with a fever and body aches.
ASK,
And then there’s that–bad reactions to the vaccine.
You are brave to put yourself through 36 hours of illness after each one. I’ve read that a reaction means that the vaccine is going to work. I’ve had mild reactions, such as a low fever for a short time and I felt tired the next day, but nothing like you describe. I’ve had every and all–the latest vaccine in September. I attribute the mild case of Covid I had last November to all the precautions–but then what do I–or what do any of us–really know?