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COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING IN THE MODERN 

WORLD: A CHALLENGE TO GLOBAL HUMANISM 

 

Evaristus Emeka Isife 

Faculty of Arts, Department of Philosophy, 

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria 
 

 

Abstract  

December 2019 brought a negative turn in the global health sector. This is as it 

marked the emergence of an infectious pandemic known as COVID-19. Spreading 

from Wuhan, in Hubei province of China, this infectious virus direly affected the 

global health sector and became a huge challenge to global humanism. This challenge 

emerged as global emphasis among other remedies dwell on physical distancing 

among people in to order minimize infections. As such, human relationship; social 

and personal contact on which humanism depends was hindered. Analytically 

therefore, this paper examines how COVID-19 and its remedy of physical distancing 

have become a challenge to global humanism. This study finds that COVID-19 and 

present physical distancing tend to separate people from one another. Yet, both are 

paradoxically uniting humanity and enhancing human capability and responsibility 

towards a common front in addressing global challenges. As such, this paper 

concludes that difficulties naturally foster the growth of humanism which now thrives 

more than before. This growth has been visible in human ingenuity towards discovery 

of COVID-19 vaccines, action plans like regular washing of hands, wearing of masks 

and personal protective equipment (PPE) that stand as reflection of humanism in the 

modern world.  

Key words: COVID-19; Challenge; Humanism; Pandemic; Physical Distancing 

 

Introduction 

As World Health Organization (WHO) was by March 2020 declaring COVID-19 a 

global pandemic, the virus has already wrecked havoc on the world population. And 

―by the end of March 2020; more than three-quarters of a million people had been 

diagnosed with COVID-19 and more than 39, 000 had died‖ (Mesa, et al., 2020,p. 

38). The last time the world suffered such health threat with dire challenges on 

humanism was a century ago when the influenza flu of 1918-1919 wiped out about 50 

million people (Idowu, 2020). At the moment however, COVID-19 pandemic has 

swiftly affected all the continents of the world. As such, the age-long conventional 

socio-physical contact and interaction that boost humanism is becoming zilch. This is 

as people largely huddle behind doors or stay meters apart and unable to even get 

close to their neighbours in the name of physical distancing. This not withstanding; 

healthcare facilities are now over-stretched, human movement is largely restricted, 

global trade has been shaken to its foundation, offices and places of worship are 

largely abandoned and humanism is in every way threatened.  

 



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Indeed, physical distancing as one of the measures of contending this virus slows 

down the course of humanism. At the same time, it stimulates the human instinct of 

self preservation and natural impulse to unite and work together in time of 

difficulties. Thus, humanity has once again been propelled to prove her intellectual, 

physical capabilities and potentialities in evolving solutions to global problems. In 

reflecting these qualities, COVID-19 pandemic and physical distancing is today 

fostering exchange of ideas and interdependency of people thereby enhancing 

humanism. Sequel to this, the present availability of maximum support, palliatives, 

action plans like regular washing of hands, wearing of masks, personal protective 

equipment (PPE), and COVID-19 vaccines testify to the growth of humanism in the 

modern world. This development has however exposed the unnecessary earlier larger 

dependence of humanity on supernaturalism, monolithic ideologies, traditions and 

religious creeds. As such, global humanism now remains a compelling ideology much 

more than geopolitics, religion and traditions. Hence, irrespective of distance, space 

and time, more right thinking people are becoming part of rational and scientific 

propelled humanism that foster the growth of humanity, safe and fulfilled habitation 

of humans in the modern world.  

 

Understanding the Concepts 

The basic concepts in this treatise are; COVID-19, physical distancing and humanism. 

COVID-19 is a human infectious virus that emerged from Wuhan, Hubei province of 

China in December 2019 (De Vos, 2020; Jiang, et al., 2020; Lipistch, et al., 2020). It 

is a virus which name was given to the sickness it causes that is popularly known as 

Corona virus. As an acronym, COVID-19 stands for Corona Virus Infectious Disease 

2019. It attacks the human heart, kidney, nervous system, lungs and the entire 

respiratory system making its victims unable to breathe properly. As such, its 

symptoms consist in persistent dry cough, fever, breathlessness, aches, pains, nasal 

congestion, runny nose, sore throat and diarrhea that takes six to fourteen days to 

manifest. Although COVID-19 can be asymptomatic in some patients, the virus 

spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an 

infected person coughs or sneezes (Idowu, 2020). In congruence with this view, 

Wilder-Smith and Freedman (2020) argue that COVID-19 is transmitted by 

respiratory droplets and requires certain proximity of people to spread. COVID-19 

could also be understood as the present pandemic that is effectively contained through 

combined protocols of social and medical managements as well as preventive 

personal hygienic techniques. These combined protocols include; 

isolation/quarantine, physical distancing (about two meters apart), personal hygiene, 

use of face mask and vaccine, etc.               

 

With COVID-19 appearing with unprecedented damages, physical distancing became 

a globally pronounced non clinical measure to contend its pandemic. This raises the 

fundamental questions: What really is physical distancing? How is it central in 

contending COVID-19 pandemic? How does it paradoxically hinder and foster global 

humanism? Physical distancing connotes measures like self-isolation, avoiding close 

contact with another person and staying at least two meters away from the other 

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person. It also connotes other global strategies like ―closure of educational institutions 

and workplaces, cancellation of mass gatherings, isolation of suspected or confirmed 

cases, quarantine of persons in contact with confirmed cases, stay-at-home 

recommendations, and even mandatory quarantine in some cities and residential 

areas‖ (Mesa, et al., 2020, p. 38). To these, Wilder-Smith and Freedman (2020) add 

that the closing of shops, restaurants and bars, prohibition of public events and 

imposition of work-from-home as efficient measures in contending COVID-19 

pandemic. Based on these, Mesa, et al (2020) explains physical distancing as spatial 

distancing, bodily or physical disconnectedness from people. Physical distancing is 

thus the minimizing of physical contacts with others in public spaces. In other words, 

it is the maintaining of physical separation amongst people in order to minimize 

transmission of Corona virus (Rubin, 2020). Physical distancing is therefore the non-

pharmacological preventive practice employed by diverse governments to halt the 

pandemic of COVID-19 virus. This preventive measure has become important 

because transmission of COVID-19 goes with saliva droplets that rest on people in 

close proximity (within 1m).  Hence, the global call for physical distance is so 

important today because the ―transmission of the Covid-19 virus can occur by direct 

contact with infected people and indirect contact with surfaces in the immediate 

environment or with objects used on the infected person‖ (Isife, 2021,p. 59). 

 

Besides, humanism is a philosophical and scientific movement premised on the 

viewpoint that human beings have one life and should make the most use of it without 

requiring supernatural sanctions, restrictions and supports. Arguably, humanism 

formally dates back to the philosophical epochs of the Sophists. Then, Protagoras was 

the first to formally establish that ―man is the measure of all things, of the things that 

are, that they are, and of the things that are not, that they are not‖ (Stumpf, 1994, 

p.32). With this conviction, Protagoras publicly taught that man is the standard of 

existence, and should be the parameter and focus of judgments and decisions in the 

world. This must be why many Scholars understood humanism as the study of 

humanities; courses and classical studies that directly revolves on man. In congruence 

with this understanding, Encyclopedia of Social Sciences (1937) captures humanism 

as a reasonable balance of life, freedom from religiosity or supernaturalism, 

responsiveness to all human passions and a homocentric philosophy.  

 

Humanism is therefore a term that encapsulates the present growing consciousness 

that upholds human potentials and capacities to take responsibility for their actions 

and events around them, without recourse to supernatural, religion or ideology. This, 

thus, means that humanism as a ―progressive life stance without supernaturalism, 

affirms our ability and responsibility to lead meaningful, ethical lives capable of 

adding to the greater good of humanity‖ (Omosulu & Inja,  2019, pp.91-92). It also 

means that humanism stands for secular consciousness that places on human beings 

the responsibility of making the world a free, peaceful and better place. This way of 

thinking and perception today underscores wide range of human activities and 

approaches to unfolding realities in the ever changing world. Humanism is therefore a 

rational philosophy informed by science, inspired by art and motivated by human 

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compassion for each other. It is ―a body of philosophies and ethical perspectives that 

emphasize the value of human beings, individually, collectively, and generally place 

more importance on rational thought than on strict faith or adherence to principle‖ 

(Onyekwere & Uche, 2013, p. 94). It has also been noted that humanism, 

 

                                   …   affirms   the   dignity   of   humans,   supports   the 

                                   maximization   of   individual  liberty  and  opportunity 

                                   in  line  with  the   social   and  planetary  responsibility.  

                                   It  advocates   human   rights   and  social  justice,  and 

                                   freed  of  supernaturalism, acknowledges the existence 

                                   of  humans  as  part  of  nature;   thereby   deriving   its  

                                   goals from human  experience  rather  than  theological 

                                   or ideological abstractions  (Omosulo & Inja, 2019,  pp. 

                                   91-92). 

 

Humanism as well ―espouses reason, ethics and justice, while specifically rejecting 

supernatural and religious ideas as a basis of ideology and decision making‖ 

(Onyekwere & Uche, 2013, p. 94). This rejection does not however remove or negate 

the nature of man as a religious being. It rather emphasizes ―the worth of human 

experiences as the benchmark for decision making‖ (Omosulu & Inja, 2019, p.87). 

Indeed, humanism is a homocentric or anthropocentric mode of thought. This is as it 

holds human interest at heart, and exist on the basis that humans are capable of 

resolving the problems of the world (Mairi, 1998). From all these, it stands that 

humanism reflects a secular thought, an outlook and way of life comprising of 

synthesis of lessons of history, philosophic thoughts, truths and scientific 

advancement that puts human interest, needs and values at the fore front. It also 

means that humanism is a way of thinking that is not exclusive to Philosophers and 

Scholars, but stands as the creed of average men and women who seek happy, 

progressive, free and useful lives. This is why Dukor (2010) describes it as a ―way of 

life that gives meaning to human life, places man in an outstanding place within the 

society and universe and gear towards an open society and open mind therein‖ (p.71).  

 

Emergence of COVID-19 and Physical Distancing in the Modern World 

One of the most perplexing aspects of COVID-19 is its origin. Stakeholders argue on 

whether this origin is natural or artificial. However, many theories emerge regarding 

this origin. Among them is the Natural but Zoonotic theory which holds that COVID-

19 likely emerged from animals like bats and pangolins. For Chinese Government and 

WHO, these animals are possible carriers of the type of virus that can emerge as 

COVID-19 in humans. Consequently, Chinese Government placed restrictions on the 

consumption of those animals. Another origin of corona virus emerged from Divine 

theory peddled by some religionists. This theory claim that COVID-19 emerged as a 

result of human increasing iniquities. Corona virus for them is therefore an expression 

of God’s wrath against humans, which can only be pacified through human 

repentance and atonement. 

 



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There is also the Conspiracy theory of origin of COVID-19. This theory holds that 

COVID-19 was developed in the laboratory by some disgruntled Chinese scientists as 

an intended bio-weapon of warfare against the US, who lacked the smartness to 

foresee that the virus will spread to other parts of the world (Operanews.com, 2020). 

Among the proponents of this theory is the US President Donald Trump and Larry 

Klayman. The latter, allegedly, filled $20 trillion lawsuit against Chinese Government 

for infecting the world with COVID-19 (Madhukalya, 2020). Supporting this theory, 

Donald Trump has continued to refer to Corona Virus as ―China Virus‖.  

 

Adding to these theories of origins is the Skeptic theory that views COVID-19 as 

non-existent. Peddlers of this theory are mostly the uneducated and rural dwellers in 

many parts of the world. For many Africans within this group, COVID-19 is a hoax 

by Chinese Government to keep people indoors in order to establish her 5G mobile 

communication network which has been envisaged to have dire radiation effects on 

humans. Many Nigerians in particular also believe that African leaders are 

collaborating with China and foreign media to promote the existence of COVID-19 in 

order to have access to billions of dollars meant for palliative by the United Nations 

for worst affected countries.  

 

With COVID-19 however came physical distancing of up to two meters as one of the 

effective measures of contending its pandemic. Physical distancing differs from social 

distancing. For while physical distancing allows people to physically communicate, 

meet and exchange ideas giving each other at least two meters, social distancing 

would not allow people to physically meet. In this sense, social distancing largely 

abhors human physical gatherings but physical distancing permits such so far 

recommended gap that undermine physical contact is observed. Thus, social 

distancing abhors human public gatherings while physical distancing points at the 

gathering of small number of people in which the recommended least of two meters 

apart is feasible. Social distancing therefore points to avoidance of public gathering, 

remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings and maintaining 

distance. 

 

Challenges of COVID-19 to Global Humanism 

Humanism thrives when people freely move, rationally converge, relate and interact. 

For pragmatic ideas that form the contents; principle and tools of humanism causally 

and dialectically result from such meddling. But with COVID-19, social, economic 

and scientific activities as well as human movement and sedentary life style were 

significantly hindered. For people were afraid of getting infected. As such, the cross 

fertilization of ideas, ingenuity and manpower which propels humanism became 

significantly minimal. In restricting people’s movements, COVID-19 has other 

devastating effects on humanism. People who live in crowded places and conditions, 

sub-standard accommodations and confined spaces with limited means of survival 

faced starvation. Covid-19 also affected transportation system, industry, agriculture, 

services and safe distribution of products. Significantly, there was low production of 

food and other commodities leading to shortages and its consequences that weakened 



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humanity and humanism. Caught in the middle were the migrant workers, labourers 

and daily earners who faced sudden unemployment and starvation. Exacerbating this 

situation was the closure of fresh food markets in many parts of the world. This 

changed the eating habits and diets of many individuals and increased poor human 

health. From the estimate posited by Lambert, et al (2020) COVID-19 doubled the 

number of poor and hungry people which was estimated to hit 265 million by the end 

of 2020.  

 

With COVID-19 and its infectious nature, self/human isolation from normal social 

life, reductions in physical activities has been the order of the day. People’s economic 

income also became reduced. This has led to increasing rate of human anxiety, 

chronic conditions, mental problems, depression, home accidents, suicide and 

domestic violence. Thus, coping with the increasing stresses and strains resulting 

from COVID-19 pandemic was a serious challenge for everyone, and humanism in 

general. The challenge of COVID-19 to global humanism also extends to 

entertainment industries. To safeguard the health of entertainers, the entire 

entertainment industries; sports, theatres, movies, etc., came to a halt. These are the 

sectors that through the years served as major social cohesion and channel through 

which humanism is projected to the public and inculcated in the people. Worst still, 

those whose emotional and psychological health depended on entertainment 

industries met worse conditions due to this halt. 

 

Another sector of humanism hugely challenged by COVID-19 was the religious 

services. This became affected as the Churches, Mosques, Shrines, Temples, etc., 

were all shut down. As such, humanity was for once deprived of those humanism 

inclined homilies, sermons, exhortations and speeches which serve as catalysts for 

human emancipation and domination of the universe. Along with these, education 

sector which is another center of global humanism by means of its advancement of 

knowledge, technology, critical thinking, etc., was also subjected to greater challenge. 

Referring to this, ―the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 

(UNESCO) estimates that 60% of the world's student population has been affected, 

with 1·19 billion learners out of school across 150 countries‖ (Lambert, et al., 2020, 

p.112).   

 

Other challenges of COVID-19 to global humanism were quite visible in the health 

sector. This is as patients were overwhelmingly not proportionate to the 

overstretched, underfunded and understaffed health facilities in many places. This is 

too as the virus in its infectious nature placed a constraint on the health facilities and 

workers making it difficult for humanist (services) to adequately manifest. The virus 

also placed difficulties and hitches in the timely delivery of health needs; equipment, 

medical supplies and other services. With rumour of health facilities flooding with 

COVID-19 patients, other ailing patients refrained from seeking medical help in the 

hospitals. As such, many people perished in the quack centers or the discomfort of 

their homes. Globally therefore, COVID-19 poses a great challenge to humanism; 



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fostered more by physical distancing that serves as one of the measures of contending 

the pandemic of the virus. 

 

COVID- 19, Physical Distancing and Local Humanism 

The reality of COVID- 19 and physical distancing has challenged each country, each 

region or each continent to seek, measures for curtailing the effects of, or solutions to, 

the pandemic from its worldview.  Each region of the world projects its humanism, 

which reflects its identity, as it searches for solution to COVID- 19 pandemic. Even 

the production of COVID- 19 vaccines has become a regional thing.  A critical study 

of the history of the production of COVID-19 vaccines from different countries in the 

world shows that none of the countries in Africa has made any serious attempt neither 

to produce any vaccine nor to articulate a plan towards the curtailment of the virus. 

The case of Africa raises serious concern for the events of slavery and colonialism 

had brought the humanity of the African into question. Also, the Africa’s 

underdevelopment, seen clearly in poor housing condition, illiteracy, lack of good 

medical facilities, corruption and poor leadership, makes the condition worse for 

Africa. It is difficult to talk about physical distancing when people are not even sure 

of or assured of their basic needs for food, shelter and Medicare. No wonder the 

world focused its gaze on Africa at the emergency of COVID- 19. The world has 

asked: how can Africa survive the pandemic?  But Africa seems to be surviving the 

pandemic (counting from the two waves of the pandemic that has hit Africa so far) as 

compared to the expectations of many. What is the secret behind Africa’s not hit 

badly by the pandemic like other continents that were better equipped than Africa 

medically? The answer can be found by exploring the African worldview.  

 

 But the main issue is, what can Africa, like other continents of the world, contribute 

towards advancing global humanism in the Post COVID -19 era? Put in another way, 

Isife(2021) maintains that ―the gains of the Covid- 19 pandemic can be gleaned by 

what role African identity can play in the provision of solution that can be beneficial 

to the entire world as well as bringing fame and economic benefits to the continent‖( 

p.61). African worldview is characterized by communalism or ―ubuntu‖ or 

―umunna‖- which depicts closeness to nature and unity of beings. It is not only that 

there is an interaction of beings in African worldview but also that there is closeness 

of beings to each other: humans, animals, plants; all relate and influence each other. 

The African ―holds that created beings preserve a bond with one another, an intimate 

ontological relationship‖ which centers on man as the beauty and pinnacle of creation. 

(Tempels, 1959, p.58)  This is why African medicine is not only systematic but also 

dynamic and mystical. Africans from time immemorial have been using plants’ 

leaves, roots and herbs to cure sicknesses. Africans have survived many pandemics 

through the use of herbs and roots which are at the core of African traditional 

medicine. Some people even attributed the low fatality of COVID- 19 in Africa to the 

use of African traditional medicine.  It is in this direction that Ufearoh(2020) argues 

that there is need for ―intensive research in African traditional medicine. If cultural 

traits partly emanates from people’s creative effort to solve prevalent problems in 

their environment using available sources within the environment, nothing prevents 



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the African from engaging in the research for a vaccine and a possible cure for Covid 

-19 using the available resources in the African environment‖ (p.102). Unfortunately, 

African leaders are more concerned about palliatives and vaccines from other regions 

than in seeking for solution for Covid -19 from the abundant available resources in 

Africa.  The argument is that we cannot talk of global humanism without local 

humanism.  Thus global humanism is a challenge to African humanism.   

  

Physical Distancing and Global Humanism             
 In the time when humanism is crucial, physical distancing poses a greater challenge. 

It thwarted the natural human impulse to draw closer and seek safety in numbers 

when faced with menace. Thus, physical distancing stood against human 

physical/interpersonal connectedness. Consequently, it impaired human physical 

interaction; a dialectics that fosters humanism. Similarly, physical distancing opposed 

human natural reaction to impending and persistent global hazard as it broke human 

physical solidarity that inspires collective responses. Based on this, Deroy, et al 

(2020) concurs that physical distancing created a dilemma that fundamentally poses a 

great challenge to humanism and the growth of human societies. The challenge of 

physical distancing therefore contradicts the fact that human physical contacts are not 

an extra, which people are at liberty to refuse, but part of what we call normal in 

human existence. For human living are naturally a collective existence; where people 

necessarily live not in isolation from others but empirically and rationally in physical 

contact with others. Humans are therefore not completely egoists; but instinctively 

seek closer social contacts and physically huddle together in the face of danger. 

Severing people’s physical and social contacts, physical distancing direly impacts on 

global physical activities; entertainment, education and business. De Vos(2020) adds 

that people’s participation in social activities affects and changes ―the number and 

types of out-of-home activities people perform, and how people reach these 

activities‖ (p.1). This is as physical distancing extended to closure of markets, 

restaurants, bars, schools, shops, Churches, Mosques, Temples, Shrines, social events 

and overall social life which serve as channels of projecting humanism but became 

commonplaces to curtail the pandemic of COVID-19.  

 

With physical distancing still, there has been disruption in people’s welfare and 

means of livelihood. According to Mesa, the most affected are healthcare works, 

migrant works, arbitrary jobs, etc., some of which lack modern organization (Mesa, et 

al., 2020). Physical distancing therefore impaired concrete interaction through which 

some of these workers make their daily earnings. It also impaired the tangible 

interaction and wellbeing of vulnerable groups such as prisoners, elderly, disables, 

healthcare workers, indigenous people, homeless populations, migrants, etc (Mesa, et 

al., 2020). Because people now largely planned and performed out-of-home activities 

at home in order to ensure physical distancing, there had also been reduction in the 

number of people who participated in social activities and which negatively impaired 

subjective well-being (De Vos, et al., 2013; Ettema et al., 2010). More so, the realities 

of physical distancing combined with the uncertainties of the future had dire impact 

on people’s mental health and wellness.  It has been noted that:  

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                                     A study conducted during the epidemic in January 

                                     among over 17 000  users  of  Weibo – one  of  the    

                                     most popular social networks  in China - found the  

                                     unfortunate    consequences     on     psychological  

                                     wellbeing   and  differences  in  the  expression  of  

                                     emotions  among  its  users  from which inferences  

                                     about  users’ psychological  states  may  be  drawn. 

                                     In   a  two-week  period  of  social  distancing,  the  

                                     number  of posts talking about depression, anxiety, 

                                     and indignation increased, while the expression of  

                                     positive emotions decreased significantly (Li, et al., 

                                     2020, p.1) 

 

These gave credence to the position of Mesa, et al (2020) that ―preventive measures 

such as physical distancing are crucial but carries long term consequences‖ (p.38). 

This is more so as physical distancing results in lower levels of social interaction and 

self-development, and higher levels of stress, boredom and depression (De Vos, 2020; 

Brooks et al., 2020).  

 

Moreover, physical ―distancing seeds the spread of misinformation and can have 

profound consequences for psychological wellbeing in vulnerable populations‖ (Xiao, 

et al., 2020, p.3). This happens more as physical distancing disconnects people from 

experts, and exposes them to excess unfounded or inaccurate information from non 

experts, unreliable sources and commercially driven interests. Some of this 

information from unreliable sources deepens the state of uncertainty co-existing with 

COVID-19, and increases the feelings of insecurity, fear, anxiety, stress, depression 

and emotional tension that weaken the growth of humanism. In fact, ―fear arising 

from the excess or unreliability of information about disease can lead to erratic 

behaviour, trigger the onset of psychiatric disorders, and even increase rates of 

suicide‖ (Tucci, et al., 2020, p.151).  

 

COVID-19 and Physical Distancing: The Paradoxical Challenge to Global 

Humanism 

The challenge of COVID-19 and physical distancing to global humanism is more of a 

paradox. This is in the sense that COVID-19 and physical distancing impact 

negatively on humanism, but at the same time stimulate humanism unto greater 

height. Thus, COVID-19 and physical distancing stimulate the substances of 

humanism; rationality, scientific capacities and potentialities towards resolving global 

problems. Meanwhile, the growth of humanism amidst COVID-19 and physical 

distancing has become more efficient through the instrumentality of Information 

Communication Technology (ICT). This has made the modern world an efficient 

global village where humanism has largely taken a virtual dimension, and solutions to 

human problems can now be reached virtually. In the present COVID-19 and physical 

distancing world therefore, the internet, social media and online channels provide an 

acceptable and effective alternative to physical contact. For these channels now 

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enable social interactions in the absence of physical contiguity. Particularly, social 

media now make it possible for large number of people to reach out to neighbors, 

relatives, friends, colleagues, co-researchers, etc., and share ideas, ingenuities and 

breakthroughs.  

 

Thus, COVID-19 and physical distancing now inspire human greater cooperation and 

social support through the aid of ICT. With the internet and online channels, there is 

now a refocusing of research and action not only to mitigate the impacts of COVID-

19 but to build sustainable and strengthened human resilience into future recovery 

(Lambert, et al., 2020). Similarly, COVID-19 pandemic and physical distancing is 

now leading to best human renovation and improvement of hospital facilities/systems 

as well as reorientation of health services. This innovation has been visible in human 

ingenuity towards discovery of COVID-19 vaccines, action plans like regular 

washing of hands, wearing of masks and personal protective equipment (PPE), etc., 

that stand as reflection of humanism in the modern world. With the present condition, 

post COVID-19 humanism now considers what virus means for future global 

planning of hospital services, food supply chains, industry, trade, agriculture, 

education and human relationship. Besides, the reality of COVID-19 and physical 

distancing have induced humanity towards identification of potential responses that 

best address different intersecting risk scenarios and underscores human resilience in 

future occurrences of similar situation. Relying on the impetus provided by temporary 

shifts in working practices and transport patterns amidst COVID-19, global 

humanism now bothers on identifying transformative opportunities towards 

mitigating future health and economic crises as well as human personal and general 

wellbeing. In other words, COVID-19 furnishes the present humanism with collective 

glimpse of alternative possible futures and opportunities. It is on this note that Yaya, 

et al (2020) exclaims that COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a new climate of 

uncertainty which is fuelling protectionism and playing into humanism narratives. 

 

The Reality of Humanism in the COVID-19 and Physical Distancing World 

From the discourse so far, it stands that humanism is characterized by human 

benevolence towards one another without distinction. It is therefore a solidarity that is 

propelled by naturalism, materialism and human desire to feel at home in this 

universe (Omosolu & Inja, 2019; Chinweuba, 2020). Humanism is thus deep-rooted 

in human mind and interest, and dwells with other human moral/altruistic acts. Based 

on all these understanding, humanism stands to be propelled by secularism, altruism, 

morality, distributive justice, rational and scientific worldview. In the contemporary 

COVID-19 and physical distancing world, humanism has become the sole standard as 

well as determinant of all standards and values. Hence, the present COVID-19 and 

physical distancing world have come to place much significance, value, worth and 

emphasis on human survival. As such, the reality of humanism in present era is 

visible in the promotion of human resilience, capacities, potentials in dominating and 

changing the course of natural and artificial conditions.  

 



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Amidst COVID-19 and physical distancing therefore, humanism is now displayed in 

other diverse ways. For instance, there are humanistic efforts by major sporting 

organizations towards reducing the pandemic of Corona virus. Along this line, FIFA 

has teamed up with the WHO and launched a ―pass the message to kick out corona 

virus‖ campaign. This campaign grounded in humanism is led by well-known football 

players in 13 languages appealing to people to follow the key steps towards reducing 

the spread of COVID-19. Adding to this is the periodic online community discussions 

and sharing of Corona virus issues and challenges. These efforts have indeed 

triggered online dialogues that presently lead people to devise and identify innovative 

solutions to other global social issues. Thus, people now identify ways of responding 

to problems faced by vulnerable individuals and groups in low income communities 

affected by corona virus restrictions and physical distancing. Amidst this, global 

humanity has showcased her ingenuity by rapidly creating online contents tailored to 

different people. These contents range from free tutorials on social media, stretching, 

meditation, yoga to dance classes in which the whole family can participate. Coupled 

with these, educational institutions are now largely providing online learning 

resources for students to follow at home. Some people, organizations, etc., ―are 

already offering psychological assistance via the internet or telephone, and using 

mobile apps to provide counseling or treatment amid the COVID-19 crisis‖ (Lai, et 

al., 2020, p.1). In the context of humanism therefore, the current pandemic crisis 

presents an opportunity to explore new strategies and to diversify solutions to human 

problems. 

 

So, COVID-19 succeeded in creating ―a conscious humanity that would be active in 

self dialectics (self-consciousness) and self-other dialectics (communal relation and 

reciprocity) that promote healthy relationship, unity and development‖ in the world. 

(Isife, 2020, p. 128). Consequently, the world is seeing many creative community-led 

practices like physical distancing, regular washing of hands, wearing of masks/PPE 

grounded in humanism, emerged in response to COVID-19 and physical distancing. 

The real-world examples of such practices are: individuals and organizations donating 

palliatives, equipments and social services in the communities, delivering shopping to 

the doorstep of the needy, checking on the elderly, widows and those in need of 

support. Other examples are visible in people with one voice applauding healthcare 

workers as well as online intra-community solidarity in which local neighborhoods 

work together to ensure that the most vulnerable in human societies are supported and 

cared for. This new but positive transnational humanism or solidarity is also visible in 

―medical diplomacy where countries have been sending doctors, paramedics, 

medicines and medical equipment across borders to those countries hit severely by 

the pandemic and that lacked certain medical expertise and supplies‖ (Mansouri, 

2020, p.1). The examples of Cuba, China and India in Italy, Nigeria and Bangladesh 

respectively, are good ones in this context. This means that COVID-19 and physical 

distancing actually offer hope for new ways of forming and sustaining solidarity and 

humanism across cultural backgrounds, faith traditions, political systems and 

geographical borders. It also means that the pandemic and physical distancing paved 

way for real demonstration of more intersected, intimately hyper-connected, 



                                                                       Aquino Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 1(2), 2021 

12 

 

irreversibly inter-dependent nature of our globalized humanized world. And now, 

COVID-19 humanism is set in reconfiguring deeper international relations, 

intercultural dialogue, equitable capacity human building, intercultural engagement 

and transnational solidarity in ways that will ensure that humanity is better able to 

deal with future crises and global threats.  

                                        

Conclusion 

There is no doubt that COVID-19 and physical distancing have created a long term 

crisis around humanism. Yet, the pandemic and physical distancing have become 

global catalysts propelling people towards greater ingenuity that fosters humanism 

and unveils deep human understanding and compassion towards the suffering 

humanity. This ingenuity is now visible in the discovery of COVID-19 vaccines, 

action plans like regular washing of hands, wearing of masks and personal protective 

equipment (PPE), etc., that stand as reflection of humanism in the modern world. 

Similarly, the pandemic and physical distancing have paved greater human recourse 

to online interactions thereby making humanism more practical than before. On these 

notes, the challenge of Corona virus and physical distancing to global humanism is 

perceived as a paradox. For the present global condition may be excruciating; yet it 

propels humanity to the next positive and beneficial level in which ICT has become 

central. The true test of humanism therefore lies with the existence of threatening 

conditions. The health threatening situation in the world therefore gives credence to 

the philosophical fact that problems beget critical thinking and fervent solutions that 

constitute development. COVID-19 and physical distancing could thus be said to 

have emboldened humanity and set humanism towards a better elevation of the 

dignity of human persons, provision of beneficial human needs, confrontation of 

future global crisis and threats. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Isife                                                    COVID-19 Pandemic and Physical Distancing … 

13 

 

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