CEDARVILLE, Ohio — The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for almost everyone in its own way. While many researchers are working to find a vaccine, others here in Ohio are looking at the effects of the pandemic and social distancing will have on our society. 

​​It used to be commonplace to give a handshake or even a hug when greeting someone. But as we all know, those social norms are no longer. Which is why Dr. Michael Sherr a professor and chair of social work at Cedarville university is looking into how social distancing may change our society forever.

“It’s so important for us to find the vaccine to discover and get past this but there’s some longer lingering questions that I think about in terms of what are the norms that are going to be developed that are going to be hard to break even if a vaccine is created," Sherr said.

Sherr studies human behavior and had a lot of questions about how our social norms would change.

“I think we’re reaching a tipping point where society and communities have to think about what we’re going to be okay with, what’re not," he said. "What can we live with and what can we live without?”

Sherr says things like sporting events, religious gatherings and even going out for a bite to eat may forever be changed because of the pandemic.

“The consequences and the things that are going to happen around the world are going to be longer and longer standing than when we find a cure," Sherr said.

Sherr has been collecting submissions from across the world on how social distancing has affected how people interact. He says it’s apparent everyone around the globe is dealing with this and he hopes that families have conversations together to make this difficult time have a positive outcome.

“I think if the pandemic allows us to have those kinds of conversations at home, to eat together, to be together, to take a minute to think about what’s important I think we will maybe come out of this stronger and better as a society," Sherr says.