New normal: What reopening looks like around the world

ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images
ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images

COVID-19 lockdowns are lifting, and the world we are emerging into looks different. Normal life as we knew it before the pandemic must adjust to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks. That means a world that looks and feels maybe a little less human.

The way we dine out, shop, learn, and worship are all being adapted to a new normal, a new way of existing in a socially distant world—if only temporarily. 

For now, clouds of disinfectant, hazmat suits over professional suits, and temperature scans are among the new everyday protocols in place to help us along the way in redefining normal life. 

Click through to see images from around the world curated by Stacker, depicting how life is changing in the wake of COVID-19. 

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Theme park temperature checks in Orlando

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Theme park temperature checks in Orlando

Pictured: A security guard checks the temperature of a guest before allowing her to enter at Universal Orlando's CityWalk, in Orlando, Florida.

Walk this way in Washington DC

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Walk this way in Washington DC

Pictured: Shoppers wearing masks in the Eastern Market in Washington D.C. abide by new grocery store protocol.

Expanded sidewalks in Argentina

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Expanded sidewalks in Argentina

Pictured: A sign marks a new pedestrian lane to widen the sidewalk for ample social distance on Avenida Corrientes in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Face shields for schoolchildren in France

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Face shields for schoolchildren in France

Pictured: Schoolchildren wearing protective face shields and masks attend class at Collège Claude Debussy in Angers, France.

'Fussball' without fans in Germany

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'Fussball' without fans in Germany

Pictured: FC Schalke 04 substitute players sit on the bench in an empty stadium during the German Bundesliga match at Borussia Dortmund.

Cardboard crowds as German soccer supporters

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Cardboard crowds as German soccer supporters

Pictured: In the absence of real-life fans, cardboard cutouts of Borussia Monchengladbach supporters are placed throughout Borussia-Park.

Iso-lunch in South Korea

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Iso-lunch in South Korea

Pictured: Employees eat lunch behind protective screens at the Hyundai Card credit card company in Seoul, South Korea.

Measuring temperatures at a mosque in Syria

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Measuring temperatures at a mosque in Syria

Pictured: A medic checks the temperature of a worshipper before entering the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria, for Friday prayer.

Social distancing at Sunday services in Berlin

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Social distancing at Sunday services in Berlin

Pictured: Members of the congregation observe social distancing at a Sunday service at the Berliner Dom cathedral in Berlin, Germany. The German capital's Protestant cathedral reopened for worshippers on May 17 after going online for two months.

Spreading out on the beaches in Tel Aviv

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Spreading out on the beaches in Tel Aviv

Pictured: Lounge chairs laid out on a beach in Tel Aviv, Israel, according to social distancing guidelines. Beaches are now open for the first time after two months of confinement due to COVID-19.

Facial thermal detectors in Italy

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Facial thermal detectors in Italy

Pictured: A man uses a facial thermal detector before entering a building in Bari, Italy.

Testing for high temps in Seoul

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Testing for high temps in Seoul

Pictured: Students undergo a temperature check from city education officials as they arrive at Kyungbock High School in Seoul, South Korea.

Back-to-school protocols in Wuhan

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Back-to-school protocols in Wuhan

Pictured: Students disinfect their desks and prepare for class in Wuhan on their first day back since schools reopened.

Temperature tests before retail therapy in Italy

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Temperature tests before retail therapy in Italy

Pictured: A security officer checks the temperature of a man at the entrance to La Rinascente, a high-end shopping center in Turin, Italy.

Spreading out at a seaside cafe in Naples

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Spreading out at a seaside cafe in Naples

Pictured: Staff members arrange tables to meet social distancing regulations in front of a restaurant on the Lungomare Caracciolo in Naples, Italy.

Sealed for delivery at a post office in New York City

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Sealed for delivery at a post office in New York City

Pictured: A view inside the United States Postal Office in Murray Hill, New York.

PPE as a fashion staple in Paris

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PPE as a fashion staple in Paris

Pictured: A mannequin dons a protective face shield in the window of a wedding shop in Paris. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is being displayed as a standard piece of wardrobe in retail stores around the world.

Cautious clippings in a Roman barber shop

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Cautious clippings in a Roman barber shop

Pictured: Barbers dressed in personal protective equipment trim men's hair as businesses reopen in Rome.

Disinfecting Russian railway stations

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Disinfecting Russian railway stations

Pictured: Several members of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations disinfect Kiyevsky Railway Station in Moscow.

Personal protective fashion on sale in the Philippines

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Personal protective fashion on sale in the Philippines

Pictured: Employees dress mannequins in personal protective suits at a retail store in Manila.

Luxury items sprayed for safety in Italy

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Luxury items sprayed for safety in Italy

Pictured: A worker disinfects a jewelry store in Naples.

Proper protection at schools in Portugal

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Proper protection at schools in Portugal

Pictured: A student wearing a face mask and shield attends a class at Escola Básica e Secundária de Santa Maria in Sintra, Portugal.

A sterile welcome at a store in Spain

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A sterile welcome at a store in Spain

Pictured: An employee wearing a face shield and mask takes the temperature of a customer inside a clothing store in Barcelona.

Masked manicure with plexiglass shield in Portugal

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Masked manicure with plexiglass shield in Portugal

Pictured: A manicurist and her client wear masks while separated by a plexiglass shield during an appointment at Nuance Cabeleireiro in Cascais, Portugal.

Caution at a cafe in Vienna

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Caution at a cafe in Vienna

Pictured: A waiter wears a face shield during his shift at Café Prückel in Vienna, Austria.

Distancing down under in Sydney

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Distancing down under in Sydney

Pictured: Green "sit here" stickers on seats indicate where commuters can remain at a safe distance aboard trains in Sydney, Australia.

Waste collection technology in Thailand

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Waste collection technology in Thailand

Pictured: A demonstration of "Wastie Robot," a contaminated waste collection robot designed to prevent and reduce the chance of infections during the pandemic. "Wastie Robot" will be used in hospitals that are treating COVID-19 patients.

Limited seating in Los Angeles

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Limited seating in Los Angeles

Pictured: To prevent groups of people from gathering, chairs are stacked together and locked up along the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California.

Extra precautions for a train journey in China

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Extra precautions for a train journey in China

Pictured: A passenger wears a hazmat suit as a precaution against COVID-19 as he waits for a train at Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province.

Limiting thrills in the Netherlands

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Limiting thrills in the Netherlands

Pictured: Visitors sit in a limited-seating roller coaster during the reopening of Efteling theme park in Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands.

Restricted reporting at the U.S. Capitol

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Restricted reporting at the U.S. Capitol

Pictured: Members of the media practice social distancing during a news conference with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.

Precaution during playtime in Turkey

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Precaution during playtime in Turkey

Pictured: Children wearing protective masks swing on a playground in Ankara, Turkey. Children aged 14 and under in Turkey are allowed to leave their homes between 11 a.m.–3 p.m. but must stay within walking distance and wear masks.

Perspex cubicles at a flower auction in South Africa

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Perspex cubicles at a flower auction in South Africa

Pictured: Bidders sitting in perspex cubicles inside the Multiflora auction warehouse in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Following instructions on an elevator in Bangkok

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Following instructions on an elevator in Bangkok

Pictured: An elevator in the Siam Paragon shopping mall guides shoppers on where to stand and which direction to face to limit exposure. Shopping malls reopened in Thailand on May 17 with strict health and safety measures.

A room full of 'diners' in Virginia

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A room full of 'diners' in Virginia

Pictured: Mannequins in 1940s-era clothing are seated in the dining area of The Inn at Little Washington, a Michelin Three Star restaurant in Rappahannock County. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commonwealth of Virginia will allow restaurants to reopen at only 50% capacity to maintain social distancing; however, Chef Patrick O’Connell plans to keep the mannequins in place when it reopens May 29 rather than leave the tables vacant when diners return.

Disinfecting after dark in Baghdad

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Disinfecting after dark in Baghdad

Pictured: Officials use massive sprayers to disinfect the streets in Baghdad, Iraq, to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Employment certificates to ride the metro in Paris

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Employment certificates to ride the metro in Paris

Pictured: French police officers patrol subway commuters at Paris' Gare du Nord train station during rush hour on May 15, 2020, as France eases lockdown measures. They monitor the use of protective face masks and confirm riders' employment certificates, allowing them to commute between 6:30–9 a.m.

Celebrating mass from behind a mask in Milan

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Celebrating mass from behind a mask in Milan

Pictured: A priest wearing a protective mask celebrates mass with a limited congregation in Milan, Italy.

Temperature checks and hazmat suits in a Thailand mall

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Temperature checks and hazmat suits in a Thailand mall

Pictured: A staff member in a hazmat suit stands near the "EM Auto Hygienic Gate" outside of EmQuartier, a mall in Bangkok. Thailand has allowed shopping malls to reopen following closure on March 22; they must follow social distancing and sanitizing protocols, as well as employ temperature checks upon mall and shop entry.

Watching where you stand in Arkansas

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Watching where you stand in Arkansas

Pictured: The men's bathroom during the first socially distanced concert at TempleLive on May 18, 2020 in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Disinfection upon entrance in El Salvador

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Disinfection upon entrance in El Salvador

Pictured: Members of the Tinetti community disinfect neighbors in the capital city of San Salvador.

Distancing at a mall in Connecticut

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Distancing at a mall in Connecticut

Pictured: A couple sit in The SoNo Collection shopping mall in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Signs to remind of distancing at a bus stop in London

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Signs to remind of distancing at a bus stop in London

Pictured: A view of a bus stop with social distancing signs in London, England.

A revival of the drive-in movie in New York City

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A revival of the drive-in movie in New York City

Pictured: Bel Aire Diner hosts a pop-up drive-in movie in their adjacent parking lot, keeping guests socially distant amid the pandemic in Queens.

Pop-up marriage booths in California

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Pop-up marriage booths in California

Pictured: Couples prepare to take marriage vows at one of six pop-up socially distanced marriage booths in the Honda Center parking lot on May 19, 2020 in Anaheim. With many wedding ceremonies on hold and county offices closed, the Orange County Clerk-Recorder has set up where the Anaheim Ducks play for civil ceremonies. Clerk-Recorder staff perform the ceremonies from inside the booths and couples are allowed one witness.

A touch-buy policy in Miami Beach

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A touch-buy policy in Miami Beach

Pictured: Store policies for entry are posted at the Pelé Soccer store on Lincoln Road, May 20, 2020, in Miami Beach. The city has begun to allow the reopening of nonessential retail and personal grooming businesses, as well as offices and museums.

Masks are a must when it comes to air travel

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Masks are a must when it comes to air travel

Pictured: Passengers at San Diego International Airport onboard an American Airlines flight to Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 20, 2020.

A different kind of social circle in California

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A different kind of social circle in California

Pictured: New social distancing circles in Dolores Park in San Francisco.

Culture from afar in Greece

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Culture from afar in Greece

Pictured: Tourists take photos behind plexiglass at the entrance of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.