April 16, 2020 / By Ray Sanchez, CNN
(CNN) – The new normal will be anything but ordinary.
As the United States combats the coronavirus pandemic, the timeline for reopening the country in a bid to jump start the economy remains unclear. But dramatic changes to daily life are coming into view — from mass temperature checks and mandatory use of face masks to empty sports and entertainment venues to Orwellian government monitoring of cellphone location and other personal information.
“You can call it the ‘new normal,'” said Juliette Kayyem, a CNN national security analyst and former assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security. “I call it the ‘now normal’ because I think every day is going to be different.”
Here’s how life could change as states consider modifying stay-at-home orders and other restrictions:
Staggered schools days and smaller class sizes
In California, like many other states that have virtually shut down, the reopening of schools is a priority.
“We need to get our kids back to school. I need to get my kids back to school,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said with a chuckle on Tuesday.
It’s too soon to loosen restrictions on schools, Newsom said. When students do return to the classroom, likely in the fall, the educational environment will be dramatically different.
