I know the Corona virus epidemic is an uncomfortable subject for many, especially business owners. Most people are panicking due to reports of unrest and turmoil occurring in the most affected countries, including schools and businesses temporarily closing down. Not to mention interruptions in the supply chain for those who source merchandise from China.
The good news is there’s no need to panic. Knowledge is power, and when you understand the Corona virus situation from a macro perspective, you’ll see that there’s no need to panic or fear. First of all, here are some important facts to know about this virus:
The virus emerged from China’s Wuhan market back in December 2019.
This isn’t a new phenomenon for China; in 2003, the SARS virus also emerged there, and under similar circumstances, before spreading around the world and killing nearly 800.
Both SARS and COVID-19 are in the "coronavirus" family, and both appear to have emerged from animals in China's notorious wildlife markets. Experts had long predicted that these markets, known to be potential sources of disease, would enable another outbreak. The markets, and the wildlife trade that supports them, are the underlying problem of these pandemics; until China solves that problem, more are likely to emerge.
Chinese citizens are now calling for a ban on these wildlife markets.
The Corona virus is not a death sentence. Of the 110, 110 cases, 62,393 have recovered from the virus.
It’s possible to restrict the spread of the virus by practicing good hygiene habits everyday. This includes washing one’s hands thoroughly multiple times a day, wiping surfaces clean, and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing.
The moral of the story here is that this is not the first or last occurrence of this virus. Outbreaks like this are one of many challenges faced by businesses in the modern landscape, so it’s important for business owners to learn graceful ways in which to deal with them.
What does it mean for your business?
There are various ways to look at it.
On the one end, if the virus reaches your part of the world (specifically your town or city) then you might have to shut down for a while if it spreads rapidly. This doesn’t mean a complete halt to productivity. There are plenty of remote working tools that you can use to keep your operations going.
Thanks to technology you can communicate with clients, suppliers and collaborate with your team on projects from home.
On the other hand, it’s a good time to raise awareness within your organisation about practicing good hygiene habits. Hang posters up to remind people to wash their hands regularly, wipe their surfaces and cover the mouth when sneezing or coughing.
What about your customers?
If you can help it, avoid closing shop. But, if push comes to shove, be sure to communicate with customers and let them know that this is only a temporary situation.
This is also a great time for businesses to double down on their online presence. Continue putting out and promoting your content.
Think about it; a lot of people are going to stay home due to the corona virus and eventually, they’ll get bored. They’re going to look for content to consume online and most likely turn to places like Instagram, YouTube and Netflix for entertainment, and also to take their mind off the stressful situation.
So, it’s never been a better time for brands to pump out content.
Moving Forward
Let’s be honest, the Corona virus epidemic will pass. China and all the countries affected will bounce back.
Of course, our prayers go out to the victims and their families. No-one should have to live in fear of sudden death by disease or any other reason.
But, we’ll do well to deal with the situation with grace. As Dr. John Bergman put it, “no matter how virulent the virus, people can recover. People recovered from Ebola, people recovered from SARS, people recovered from the Spanish flu, and people recovered from the Black Plague. So there’s no need to panic.” – Dr. John Bergman
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