How It Feels: Clevelanders Share How Coronavirus Has Affected Daily Life

Seemingly overnight, the coronavirus outbreak touched Clevelanders' lives in ways we never could have expected.

Today's generations have lived through tragedy. But to many who lived through the Vietnam War, the John F. Kennedy Assassination, 9/11 or even, for some, the 2008 financial crisis, the trouble often seemed to be going on over there and to other people. Sad. But not affecting me. 

Yet, no one has escaped a life influenced and changed by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. For many, it might be as simple as working from home, a favorite concert canceled or a vacation postponed. For others, it's meant lost lives, lost jobs and family or friends suffering.

But while the experience of a senior in high school missing his prom or a parent having to balance working from home while raising the kids might not be as harrowing as a first responder treating coronavirus patients or a service industry member losing his or her job, all of these experiences are difficult, irreplaceable and life-changing — especially as we all endure the trauma of a global crisis.

So we wanted to hear from all of them: teachers, first responders, students, parents and anyone else who's been affected by this crisis. We wanted to see what it feels like to live life in isolation and transition to new ways of working, thinking and living. 

How has the situation changed their daily lives? What was the moment they knew things wouldn't be the same any more? What does their new normal look like? How have they adapted? How does it feel?

Below are each of those accounts, part of our ongoing series, "How It Feels CLE." If you'd like your story to be told, send us an email at stewart@clevelandmagazine.com. 

How It Feels:
Playing High School Football
Lake Catholic senior Joe Malchesky shares how it feels to play football in a mostly empty stadium on Friday nights during a pandemic. 

Managing A Restaurant During COVID-19
The general manager of operations of Great Lakes Brewing Co.’s Brewpub shares the struggles of keeping a restaurant going during the pandemic.

Being A Restaurant Owner Transitioning From Fine Dining To Gourmet Meal Prep

Lakewood's Distill Table, our 2019 Best New Restaurant, talks about having to close down its operation as it knows it and switch to offering a "heat-and-eat" meal package.

Teaching In A Crisis

A seventh- and eighth-grade teacher from Cleveland’s St. Thomas Aquinas discusses the fears and challenges of transitioning to an online classroom in the middle of a crisis.

 
Being Laid Off From The Service Industry

One waiter at Ohio City’s Market Garden Brewery shares the struggles of being laid-off, the comradery of fellow co-workers and the anxiety surrounding making ends meet.

Working From Home With The Kids

A sixth-grade teacher from Lawrence School talks about how she’s managing to work from home while still making sure her own kids are learning and more.

To Have A Senior Year Cut Short

Luka Eller, a senior at Lake Catholic High School, shares what it's like to miss milestone moments and how he's preparing for a new normal.

Treating Coronavirus Patients As A First Responder

A veteran Parma firefighter-paramedic shares how coronavirus has upended his community and profession.

To Deliver Food And Packages In A Pandemic
We talked to a delivery driver about what it's like to go from restaurants for DoorDash to Amazon warehouses to people's doorsteps during a pandemic.

Tying The Knot During The Stay-At-Home Order
We talked to Sara McManamon about what it was like to have an outdoor wedding during social distancing instead of postponing for a year.

Being Pregnant During A Pandemic
3 News anchor Sara Shookman fills us in on what it's like to be pregnant and working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reporting On COVID-19
Ideastream health reporter Marlene Harris-Taylor sheds light on her experience of what it's like to report on the global pandemic.

Teaching Music Lessons From A Distance
Choir teacher Joel McDaniel from Laurel School shares how he's keeping his students creative during the pandemic.

Fighting Coronavirus 

Father and husband Chris Schmitt tells us what it was like to fight and be hospitalized by coronavirus at age 38.

Finding Empowerment Through Music and Art Therapy
A father of three talks about the importance of music and art therapy and how it’s helped his children get through this difficult time.