Tag: corona virus

Day 65 Back to Work…Back to School

As the planet nears 5 Million infected people worldwide, the U.S. passed 1.5 Million Corona Virus infections and is inch closer to 100K deaths. The decision to loosen stay at home orders is being driven by economic desperation and political partisanship. Memorial Day is now the official “reopening” date.

So, what will a “reopened” world look like? Any large employer will now need executives with medical or special training to help put active controls in place for daily operations. You can’t simply guess and space desks out 6 feet apart. You need to implement active tracing for all of your employees, on campus and off. Companies will need to figure out how to provide PPE, active disinfection of common areas (elevators & restrooms).

Schools, are a workplace for teachers, and presents a more complex situation. It might not be ideal for Teachers, who are older and at higher risk, to interact with younger students. Contact tracing at academic institutions will be a responsibility that schools will not be able to handle. Just consider the size of the NYC public school system. Will teachers and students be tested daily for covid-19? If a rapid test works and identifies a positive case, how will the person/student be quarantined? We have a few months to plan for a return to school, but Companies need to figure out plans over the next few days. Many will be hiring a Chief Medical Officer, which will remove talented medical professionals into the private sector.

Over 1.5 Million Infected in the U.S.

Day 63 Another Sunny Day

When the sun comes out, so do the calls for cities and their beaches to open. Memorial Day is quickly approach and people have grown tired of being stuck at home. But is there a risk in reducing stay at home orders?

Gov Phil Murphy, is leading the way in the Northeast, parks and golf courses have reopened with guidelines, nonessential retail businesses can offer curbside service starting Monday morning, beaches can be open this summer, and charted fishing and boat rentals resumed this morning.

Gov. Cuomo is right when he says the New Yorkers will flock to the Jersey Shore if NY beaches remain closed. So, Gov.’s hands are being forced in a high stakes game of Russian Roulette.

I hope that things go well and that people respect all of guidelines for social distancing. If we see an increase in the infection rate, we can only blame ourselves for not listening to Dr. Fauci and the other medical experts.

Day 60

I spent the better part of yesterday on the phone with family and friends. As a result, I didn’t post Day 60. I guess one positive from this Pandemic is that I have been contacting family and friends more frequently. During this moment of isolation, those connections even via mobile are valuable.

Day 59 The Roads Are Safer!

With States attempting to justify why its safe resume business, the question remains, is it safe! Dr. Fauci is still cautioning our country about the danger that still exists as death rates and infection decline.

With millions of people staying at home, New York City reported 58 straight days with no pedestrians being struck or killed in the city, which they haven’t seen since they began tracking pedestrian fatalities in 1983. Hey, I’m looking for the silver lining in this.

The U.S. edges closer to 1.5 Million Infections

Day 56 Mass Extinction

My small business should be able to ride out the pandemic. My partner and I have estimated that we can survive through November of 2020. We don’t have employees, which helps. But we have not received any government aid and the bills keep coming in.

While we are hanging on by a shoe string, but how many other small owner run businesses will need to close their doors? COVID-19 may go down in history as the next great Mass Extinction, but for small business.

The climate is perfect for larger companies to absorb smaller firms for pennies or simply take over their customers after they shutdown. I expect to see an unprecedented number of mergers and acquisitions over the next 24 months. It reminded me of a short video that I shared with my dev team years ago. Take a look.

Wow 2007 – it might actually be older.

Day 55 Caution

COVID-19 affects each individual differently. First, the concern was over older people and individuals with weakened immune systems. Now, fear is growing that children may be dying from a new illness due to COVID-19. There is so much that we still don’t know, and yet people are eager to reopen. “Discretion is the better part of valor. Caution is preferable to rash bravery” — Falstaff

Day 54 Connecting With Friends

This stay at home period has motivated me to reach out to old friends and colleagues. It has been amazing to catch up and wish each other well. So each day I reach out to two people, at this rate I could make it to the end of the year. I have already arranged a dozen dinners and lunches. I’m doing my part to help get the economy going.

Day 51 Virtual Sports

On May 25th, the US will be celebrating Memorial Day. That weekend would normally be the highlight of the F1 season, the Monaco Grand Prix. Its an event where the three days leading up to the race are filled with private parties and sunbathing. Now it will be digital playground with flashbacks of SecondLife.

Day 50 Back to Normal

As the debate about re-opening business swings from state to state, COVID-19 continues to claim lives. Without a vaccine, it is reasonable to conclude that a second or third outbreak will bring cities like New York, LA, and New Jersey back to square one. What price are we willing to pay for normal?