The Coronavirus, it has developed into a global health crisis in a very short span of time. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Covid-19 as a global pandemic. The condition is critical, the virus spreads rapidly and all it takes is a little contact to pass it on.
For the past couple of weeks countries have come to a stand-still. People are advised by governments to stay home and avoid all public gatherings.
Social Distancing has become a social obligation.
All these precautions have their own impacts which includes the huge economic downfall. Stock Markets across the globe are plummeting and the possibility of a huge recession incoming does not necessarily put minds at ease.
What can we do as individuals to stop the Covid-19 spread?
Stay at home, I know you are probably hearing a lot of it recently, and it’s because it’s the most efficient way to curtail the Covid-19 spread. If all of us just stayed home for 14 days we would not have to worry about the Covid-19 virus spreading any further. It’s never been easier to do your part for the community.
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Family First
Special steps and precautions should be taken to curb the spread to our parents who are more susceptible to the virus, the older the individual the harder it is to recover. Stay home and distance yourself socially as much as possible….at least for our elders.
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Personal Hygiene
Keep your hands clean at all times as it is the most common medium that transmits the virus. Keep a hand sanitizer on you at all times and don’t hesitate to use it frequently.
Clean clothes and regular baths also help as the virus cannot survive for long periods (over 12hrs) without a host. Avoid touching your mouth, nose, eyes with your hands and use a face mask if necessary.
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Social Gatherings
It goes without saying but avoid all social gatherings. Weddings, Movies, Events, Sports, Funerals, and other social/religious gatherings should be avoided at all costs, especially if you are showing symptoms.
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Quarantine yourself
If you suspect you are infected from coming in contact with someone or if you are showing symptoms, isolate yourself and get help if needed. The World Health Organization(WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have laid down guidelines and support numbers to help you through the difficulties.
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Avoid the unnecessary panic
Spreading false information, news and panic buying supplies need to stop. As a community we can surpass these times of hardship if we work together and aid one another, in this case, it isn’t through direct contact but solidarity.
It is important to note that during times that call for unity we should not put our personal interests above the collective good. If you can, donate and help the less fortunate and those who are financially weak during such times. If it seems too much for you, you can do the bare minimum, which is, staying at home and breaking the chain.
What can you do as a business owner to stop the Covid-19 spread?
The main goal for survival in such situations is to be kind and care for one another. If you can set up a way to let your employees work from their homes for just the 14 days it takes to get things under control, it can make a massive impact. Hunting profits over employee and community welfare is not the smartest option right now.
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Encourage Work from home
Like the endless list of companies from Fortune 100 to SMBS, it is advisable to send your employees home and allow them to work remotely. This reduces the risk of spreading the virus to the community.
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Avoid unnecessary business travels
If it can be done remotely it should be done remotely. Avoid all International and Domestic business meetings and travels. Most such meetings can be held from home via a conferencing software. In cases of unavoidable meetings, it’s always preferable to use private transport and adhere to the guidelines from WHO.
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Additional resources to aid work from home
There are currently tons of software available in the market for handling such a situation. Task management, Scheduling and Employee management software, common HR software, online office, utility suites and similar services can be leveraged to aid the business in managing employees working remotely.
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Contractors, vendors, and hourly workers
A group that is most at risk as they cannot afford to stay home, it is important to solve this…. if your organization has the financial ability to keep such employees at home with regular salaries, all the better.
If it is hard for you company to maintain such employees, at least consider assigning them some other work that they can securely execute or make sure they are paid as much as the company can afford to. This keeps them in their homes and that is biggest help they can do for your company at the moment.
It is incredible to witness high spirits and comradery during times of trouble. Let’s stand together and wipe this pandemic from our hands and our lands. We at Hexnode are privileged to help anyone who wants to join in the fight and break the chain.
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