H18. COVID-19 pandemic

Background & findings

According to Moore, A., Lipsitch, M., Barry J., and Osterholm, M. (April 30, 2020) the coronavirus pandemic is likely to last as long as two years and won’t be controlled until about two-thirds of the world’s population is immune. Because of its ability to spread from people who don’t appear to be ill, the virus may be more hard to control than influenza, the cause of most pandemics in recent history. People may actually be at their most infectious before symptoms appear, according to the authors.

After locking down billions of people around the world to minimize its spread through countries, governments are in May cautiously allowing businesses and public places to reopen. Yet according to Moore, A., Lipsitch, M., Barry J., and Osterholm, M. (April 30, 2020) the corona virus pandemic is likely to continue in waves that could last beyond 2022.

Reference
Kristine A. Moore, Marc Lipsitch, John M. Barry, and Michael T. Osterholm (2020) COVID-19: The CIDRAP Viewpoint Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota April 30th, 2020 https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/sites/default/files/public/downloads/cidrap-covid19-viewpoint-part1.pdf

unsplash - covid

Our Recomendation

Despite the challenges, or actually due to the challenges, it is necessary to stay strong and focused. We must all support each other, educate oursleves and others about FACTS and avoir rumours. Seek evidence before accepting a statement. Do not panick, then we may act in a way that increases the problems.

For HR&S it means continue with what we are doing, as this is something we strongly believe in depsite challenges, while adapting our activites to the new reality, thus limit the spread of COVID-19, take care of those already infected, while keeping our businesses going.

Our Action

Information message about the COVID-19 in March

By Anna Ågren MD, PhD & Åsa Schlyter MD,
HR&S expert advisers, Stockholm, Sweden

A short message was shared by the HR&S Expert advisers on the 28 March 2020, to inform all our partners and RISE Centres.

Message
The COVID-19 virus (the corona virus) is very contagious and presents serious issues for the elderly. It may be lethal to many of us, but in particular to people aged 70 years and older.
Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to influenza. Symptoms include fever, rhinitis, sore throat, coughing and difficulty breathing. Some people get no or very mild symptoms but they can still spread the disease. Difficulty breathing is a sign of possible pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention.
If you follow these recommendations you will help prevent spreading the virus and save lives.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water.
  • Don´t visit anybody if you have a fever and/or are coughing.
  • Avoid crowds of people.
  • Visit as few people as possible – stay at home if you can.
  • Keep your distance to people – stand two meters apart.
  • Do not hug or touch others in general and in particular old people.

Home businesses, mobile money and special delivery

HR&S proposal is to support home businesses. Thus our business owners add one component to their business offer. They add delivery to the customer. The customer will get the product devliered outside her home, and HR&S RISE Centres are in charge of the delivery system.  The customer pay and place the order through mobile money, and we develop an app that shares about the products available. We need the authorities approval to have delivery motorbikes moving around. Coordination and accountability is ensured through our RISE Centres.