Thoughts on fighting COVID-19
Let's just start by saying that whatever industry you're in, getting COVID-19 under control globally is helpful.
You might think that companies that make Toilet Paper, hand sanitizer or essentials like the food chain are immune. But they aren't. Today, people are blowing through cash and credit to buy these things up. If the general population doesn't get back on its feet, even these industries will fall below pre-pandemic level.
But, there are things everyone can do to help.
The first is a term you're probably already sick of hearing; social distancing. As I've argued before, this isn't really going to go away. But, it is nonetheless critical to slow it down. Many of the deaths in places like Italy would have been preventable had the virus attacked the same people, but at a slower rate. People are dying because the healthcare system can't keep up.
Anything you can do to limit the number of people outside your home that you come in contact with and limit the amount of time doing so helps slow the spread.
If you're sick, do everything within your power to avoid contact with others. This is more than social distancing. This is self-isolating. Try to make arrangements for others to get you the necessities and deliver them to you in a safe fashion.
Another thing you can do is not panic and not stockpile. Creating constraints on resources fosters more panic and creates a greater need for others to go searching for necessities.
This doesn't mean you need to strictly buy things like groceries on the same frequency. Buying a weeks worth of food instead of a day is NOT stockpiling. Buying 2 weeks worth of extra non-perishable foods which you have no immediate plan to consume IS stockpiling. Being prepared is not a bad thing. But being prepared means having these things BEFORE they are critical. It is too late to stockpile for an emergency. Stockpiling now will actually exacerbate the problem. Don't create a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Other things you can do include installing Folding@Home on your computers. This application uses your computers processing power for various medical simulations to help try to find solutions for medical problems. Right now, a lot of that processing power is being put towards COVID-19 related studies. And, while this usually puts a burden on your PC and might increase your energy bill, right now so many people are doing it, that they're actively clearing out the queue of work. I have 3 computers running this, once an hour or so one of my computers gets a single unit of work. It isn't going to break the bank.
Clean your hands before and after going out, with soap and water, thoroughly for 30 seconds or more.
Maybe you can make homemade face masks or help out in other ways. Homemade face masks are not as effective as getting the right ones. But, they are more effective than having none at all.
Think about how you can contribute without accelerating the spread. There is probably something more than just social distancing or self-isolating you can do. But, even if you can't think of anything else, those things are very helpful right now.
You might think that companies that make Toilet Paper, hand sanitizer or essentials like the food chain are immune. But they aren't. Today, people are blowing through cash and credit to buy these things up. If the general population doesn't get back on its feet, even these industries will fall below pre-pandemic level.
But, there are things everyone can do to help.
The first is a term you're probably already sick of hearing; social distancing. As I've argued before, this isn't really going to go away. But, it is nonetheless critical to slow it down. Many of the deaths in places like Italy would have been preventable had the virus attacked the same people, but at a slower rate. People are dying because the healthcare system can't keep up.
Anything you can do to limit the number of people outside your home that you come in contact with and limit the amount of time doing so helps slow the spread.
If you're sick, do everything within your power to avoid contact with others. This is more than social distancing. This is self-isolating. Try to make arrangements for others to get you the necessities and deliver them to you in a safe fashion.
Another thing you can do is not panic and not stockpile. Creating constraints on resources fosters more panic and creates a greater need for others to go searching for necessities.
This doesn't mean you need to strictly buy things like groceries on the same frequency. Buying a weeks worth of food instead of a day is NOT stockpiling. Buying 2 weeks worth of extra non-perishable foods which you have no immediate plan to consume IS stockpiling. Being prepared is not a bad thing. But being prepared means having these things BEFORE they are critical. It is too late to stockpile for an emergency. Stockpiling now will actually exacerbate the problem. Don't create a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Other things you can do include installing Folding@Home on your computers. This application uses your computers processing power for various medical simulations to help try to find solutions for medical problems. Right now, a lot of that processing power is being put towards COVID-19 related studies. And, while this usually puts a burden on your PC and might increase your energy bill, right now so many people are doing it, that they're actively clearing out the queue of work. I have 3 computers running this, once an hour or so one of my computers gets a single unit of work. It isn't going to break the bank.
Clean your hands before and after going out, with soap and water, thoroughly for 30 seconds or more.
Maybe you can make homemade face masks or help out in other ways. Homemade face masks are not as effective as getting the right ones. But, they are more effective than having none at all.
Think about how you can contribute without accelerating the spread. There is probably something more than just social distancing or self-isolating you can do. But, even if you can't think of anything else, those things are very helpful right now.
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