In December 2019 a cluster of cases of viral pneumonia of unknown cause was reported by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission in Hubei province. In January 2020, the novel coronavirus was revealed as the causative agent. The pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 caused by SARS-CoV-2 was declared on March 11th, 2020. German sociologist Urlich Beck defined modern society as the risk society. According to Beck, modern risk society faces new hazards and uncertainties caused by the modernization process. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus is one amongst many proofs of the vulnerability of today’s society. The danger isn’t predestined for the most vulnerable social groups anymore but poses a threat to all classes in society. Numerous epidemics and pandemics throughout history prove the strong interconnection between the epidemiologic situation and society’s development, like the plague, cholera, syphilis, and AIDS. However, during the crisis caused by the pandemic of the novel coronavirus, all the weaknesses and paradoxes of the modern risk society came to light. In the overall context of the pandemic, the role of the national states strengthened, and existing social inequalities additionally deepened. Furthermore, a likely decline of the Human Development Index is predicted for the first time in 30 years, which includes education, healthcare, and standard of living. According to projections of an American study conducted at Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University, online learning and school closures during lockdown are likely to lead to a significant loss in math and reading comprehension. According to available data, the rate of domestic violence as well as the number of divorce applications has risen. During the pandemic, social media played a crucial role in spreading information as well as disinformation about the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.