Coronavirus: The Journey So Far; Losers and Winners.

OVERVIEW

The first time I heard about the COVID-19, it felt like a faraway concept and many people must have been guilty of thinking it was a Chinese problem. When it started spreading, there were rumours that it affected only people of certain races and elderly people. Many people unwittingly and selfishly went about their businesses unaffected, paying it no mind. The numbers felt distant like they were not actual people. There was even a viral video of some University students in a crowded party who said they wouldn’t allow the virus disrupt their spring break plan and fun. (just plain irresponsible).  

While elderly people and people with pre-existing conditions are most vulnerable, we have been pleasantly surprised by some elderly people who have fought the virus off. We have also come to discover that the virus is no respecter of race or continental borders. 

Over a million people have been affected and 75% of the world’s population is on one form of lockdown or the other. 2020 has been a humbling year for us all. Businesses are scrambling to survive; people are losing their sources of livelihoods and many of our structures can’t seem to hold. The world seems to be on the brink of an economic recession should we come out of this. 

If we have ever been in a large pot of boiling soup, the heat is definitely intensifying now and we all have been scalded somehow. 

GREATEST OBSTACLES SO FAR 

It is new: Humans are encountering this virus for the first time and why it shares properties with other known viruses, it is unique in many other ways., From what we have learnt from scientists, it is better for us all to be safe than sorry. The Coronavirus COVID-19 is as badass as viruses can get. It spreads like wildfire and many times undetected. It has affected close to 900,000 people since we first encountered it. It stays in the air for about three hours after an infected person coughs or sneeze. It can stay up to 24hours on hard shiny surfaces. 

Perhaps if many people understand just how dangerous this virus is, we’ll have more success at some of the measures taken. 

No cure/Vaccine:  In desperation, many governments have adopted the use of hydroxy-chloroquine and chloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19. This is based off a report by China that they used the drugs in combating the cases they had. The drug is known to have side effects especially in people with liver or kidney issues.

Limited Testing: If you have been following the stories surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic closely, you’d agree that one of the pitfalls governments are encountering is making testing readily available. 

Many people are unable to get tested unless they are showing symptoms. COVID-19 symptoms have been known to take 2-14 days incubation period. There is also the time limitation (the average test takes about 3-4days and in some places may be close to 10days given the limited number of testing centers). There is also the situation of very limited testing. There have only been a little under 200 confirmed cases in Nigeria due to limited testing. There has also been some inconsistencies recorded in some testing centers. It has also been proven that some people may be asymptomatic and be spreaders without knowing.

If people do not get tested, how will they know and how will the spread be nipped in the bud? 

Limited amenities and instruments: Since the outbreak, governments have struggled with housing those affected in the available hospitals. Above this is the shortage in ventilators which is one of the most important medical equipment needed to sustain those with bad symptoms. 

Poor Hygiene practices: Clean surfaces, wash hands obsessively. As simple as this sound, many people struggle with keeping up. This situation is suddenly asking us all to develop OCD cleaning capabilities. How can we possibly cope?

HOW THE WORLD IS COPING 

Creative Solutions: 

• Work From Home: Many HR enthusiasts have suggested this option but the adoption hasn’t been so rapid. However, given the unique situation surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic,many businesses have embraced it and made it work. 
• Going digital: Learning to do without the human touch, brands are learning new ways of connecting with their customers through webinars, live social media streaming, teleconferencing,videoconferencing etc. 
• Making better use of other non-human messengers: A dog recently made news for making delivery. There are have been reports of drone delivery trials, one can’t help but think this may be approved for commercial use earlier than thought. 

BIG TECH LOSSES AND NEW PLAYERS 

Technology and science has been at the forefront of the fight against the virus, with tech companies coming up with creative ways to end the menace that has disrupted the entire world.  

Hospitality and Aviation have taken a deep dive down and some of them may never fully recover. Airlines are paying back billion of dollars in refunds while companies like AirBnB have had to take a drastic cut in revenue. 

Ride-hailing companies have recorded a decrease in patronage with some of them totally grounding operations in some regions till further notice.  They have been specifically impacted by the measures that have had to be put in place such as social distancing and remote work options. 

Coworking spaces: Almost everyone swore by this solution. There was nothing to lose , it felt like a win-win situation with the owners and also the small business owners/individuals that were using the spaces. Then, there came social distancing and all the horrors ‘mingling with other humans’ could bring and here we are.

Smartphone companies have recorded a massive decline in sales which is as a result of manufacturing and logistic issues. Shipments dropped from 99.2million in February 2019 to 61.8million in February 2020. 
 
Despite a decline in revenue for many industries/companies, the same cannot be said about other industries. Many business enthusiasts believe that this period will birth new players in the field. Infact Bill Ackman is of the opinion that now is the best time to buy certain stocks. 

The areas that are experiencing major boom since the start of the pandemic- 

• Fintech: With almost every transaction happening online, well positioned payment solutions companies will definitely be smiling to the bank. More transactions equals more revenue. 
• Ed-Tech companies: Schools are home. No better time for parents and teachers to go digital. An up and coming industry is suddenly thrown into limelight. People have more time on their hands and it has never been a more perfect time to register for a new course. 
• Telecommunication companies: We all are having to rely on internet to get a lot of things done professionally. Also, boredom has seen us increasingly having to call, visit websites, stream music/videos and stay on social media for entertainment.  
• E-commerce companies: The most dominant figure and undoubtedly the biggest winner here is Amazon. People’s inability to move around to get their basic needs has seen an increased reliance on ecommerce stores. 
• Video streaming apps: These companies probably didn’t know they needed a time like this but here we are with Netflix and Youtube needing to reduce their video quality to help the world’s internet. 
• Gaming apps have definitely experienced a surge with people suddenly finding out they have time on their hands to play with (See what I did there) 
• Cloud Softwares couldn’t have hoped for a better time. Amazon Web Service, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure among others have seen a massive surge in usage. 
• Social Media: From newbies like Tik-Tok to giants such as Facebook and Instagram, social media is experiencing an increase in usage. 
• Oh!  Video and Teleconferencing apps are big winners too. Zoom being the most prevalent has suddenly become the go to work from home video chat solution. 

WHEN WILL THE PANDEMIC END? 

There do not seem to be an end in sight given the lack of cure and an effective vaccine.  However, all hands-on deck to make sure that the end we seek is near. First thing to do is to flatten the curve.

A good end will be a cure or vaccine which will go a long way in helping us get back to our normal lives.  

FINAL THOUGHTS: 

There is a fear that even if we get through this, we need to start preparing for another. 

Perhaps, our new normal may be better hygiene practices and face masks and gloves as essential clothing.  

Undoubtedly, a new reality is awaiting us at the end of all these. A recession is inevitable and hopefully, governments all around the world would revisit their healthcare policies. Also, I hope we re-align our priorities by seeing how vulnerable we are and start prioritizing the things that are most essential to our existence.  

For now, we’ll stick to washing our hands and social distancing.  Visit www.who.int for reliable updates.