Essay: Living Through a Global Pandemic: COVID-19 in Ireland

‘History never looks like history when you are living through it’. (Gardner, 1968) Today we have no shortage of reminders about what is going on around us and the historical significance that it holds. We are living through an extraordinary time in history that will be analysed, discussed, and written about for years to come. The coronavirus was declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Since then, it dominates the news headlines of televisions and newspapers. Shops and businesses are constantly reminding us to wear a mask and keep our distance and Governments across the world are trying to prevent economies from going bust. Every person has been and still is affected in some way shape or form by the global pandemic of 2020. In this essay, I will be discussing the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic particularly in relation to Ireland and the reasons as to why people continue to party during a global pandemic.
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019 which has led to an ongoing worldwide pandemic. (World Health Organisation, 2020) Health officials are still tracing the exact source of this new coronavirus, but some theories suggest that it may have been spread from a bat in a seafood market. A fever, dry cough and tiredness are the most common symptoms of COVID-19. The virus is spread from person to person through the droplets of a sneeze or cough that reach the mouth, nose, or eyes of another person. The severity of the virus can range from mild to severe and often it can lead to death. People who are older and those with underlying health conditions are most vulnerable to the virus. There is yet no vaccine available to prevent COVID-19 however there are a number of measures taken to help prevent the spread of the virus, for example, wearing face masks in indoor areas and keeping your distance of two metres between one another. There have been over sixty-seven (67) million cases of coronavirus and over one million, five hundred and forty thousand (1.54) deaths as of December 7, 2020.
The first case of coronavirus in Ireland was reported on February 29, 2020 and within three weeks there was a confirmed case in every county. On March 12, 2020, the Irish Government announced the closure of both primary and secondary schools, colleges, and all childcare facilities across the nation. All Saint Patrick’s Day festivities were cancelled as well as any large indoor and outdoor gatherings. Two weeks later, March 27 the Government imposed a stay-at-home policy. Non-essential travel and contact with people from outside of the home was forbidden. All non-essential businesses were shut. No indoor or outdoor gatherings were to take place and all other facilities and amenities were not to operate for a period of two weeks. However, as we know, this was not the case and life did not go back to normal. Students did not return to school and this saw the cancellation of both Leaving and Junior Certificate exams for the first time in Irish history. This was followed by a list of many other annual events that were scheduled to take place which were either cancelled completely or postponed to another date.
To fully grasp why people party during a global pandemic, first we need to understand the reason people party in general. Sociologist, Alice Goffman wrote an article that was published in 2019 about parties and partying. Goffman highlights five features of social occasions that prompt bursts of change which may lead to unexpected life changes for an individual. A party is an example of these social occasions. The first feature Goffman discusses is that parties are “special worlds set off from ordinary life.” (Goffman, 2019) A party is a space that is separate from everyday life and therefore it is rare which makes the party more special. They allow for a freedom of sociability and for behaviours that would not be appropriate or acceptable during everyday life. (Georg, 1949)
The second feature Goffman mentions is worlds colliding. Parties open the door to unexpected bursts of change by bringing people together who they would normally not mix with. This is where the unexpected element comes in. By going to a party, people are potentially opened to new relationships, both friendships and intimate relationships. The next feature is about collective effervescence and emotional energy. Sociologist Emile Durkheim describes this collective effervescence as the electrical charge and sense of union generated when people assemble. (Durkheim, 1912) Emotional energy refers to the longer-term product of temporary feelings which is an energy that resides in individuals and manifests as confidence, group solidarity, or a sense of membership. (Collins, 2004) Parties can create an emotionally charged, magical realms of connection and inspiration, which alters a person’s life path.
Goffman then goes on to talk about the fourth feature, forced public rankings. In ordinary times, most people would tend to keep their opinions of one another vague or unspoken, however, ‘social occasions’ may force the host of the occasion to publicly rank those who are attending. (Goffman, 2019) Goffman uses the example of teenager X not being invited to her friend Y’s party after ‘friend’ Y publicly announces to there group of friends that Y’s own birthday is soon. Teenager X soon realises she did not get an invite to Y’s party. Social occasions like a party can operate as facto popularity contests. This example shows how teenager Y viewed teenager X as low ranking as Y did not invite X at all. The final feature of social occasions that prompt bursts of change is complex choreography. All social interaction requires people to manage themselves to some degree, for example to maintain appropriate levels of involvement and heed their turn in a conversation. (Goffman, 2019) The choreography of interaction during social occasions is particularly complex. Things like the order and manner used to greet people must be worked out as well as the transitions between rooms and so on. The more special an occasion is and the more that it brings together people who would not usually meet, the more complex the choreography is and the more it matters to people when they fail or succeed. (Wynn, 2016)
While many teenagers and young adults in Ireland are adhering to guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation and Governments, there are many who are choosing to ignore them. Young people are being advised to take the global pandemic more seriously and to follow social guidelines. Many young people believe that they will not be severely affected if they contract the coronavirus which the majority will not. However, they can spread the virus rapidly and pass it on to those who are most vulnerable to it. The return of students to college across the country in September saw a large increase of COID-19 cases. On October 15, 2020, The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) were notified of one thousand, two hundred and five (1,205) COVID-19 cases and seventy-one (71) percent of those cases were under the age of forty-five. (Government of Ireland, 2020) Students at University College Cork were one of many colleges who organised and attended house parties. People living near the university have complained that their lives are being put at risk by hundreds of students who are hosting and attending ‘COVID parties’ and are showing no respect for other residents in the surrounding area. (Kelleher, 2020) The students of Cork held parties twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week with no social distancing and no facemasks being worn.
While the majority of young adults are not severely affected by virus, partying during a global pandemic is not the most sensible thing to do, it is important to understand that this pandemic has disrupted young adults lives in many significant ways. Irish students were robbed of milestones and rites of passage like birthday parties, summer trips, part-time jobs, nights out, the debs, the Leaving Certificate and now the college experience too. (O’Connell, 2020) Many students are attending house parties as they want normality back in their lives and they are using parties as a coping mechanism. By socialising with friends, it takes their attention away from the problem, a global pandemic. Although this is not an excuse for young adults to host and attend parties, there is an element of understanding as to why they are happening. However, it is also important to note that not all students and young adults are out partying, there is a majority who are following government guidelines and staying safe.
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challenge in all sectors of life. (Chriscaden, 2020) However, after almost a year of living with the virus, a vaccine is in sight and it could be distributed as early as next month. Sociologist Alice Goffman’s article on partying investigates what interests’ people about parties, other than drink and drugs. Goffman identifies five factors of social occasions that bring about a change which may lead to unexpected life changes for an individual. Goffman’s ideas can be applied to people, particularly young adults, who are continuing to party during a global pandemic.