Thursday, March 19th, 2020
Picking up yesterday’s thought:
What might the new normal look like?
I guess this depends on what was “normal” before COVID19. Normal in my life was having at least three “homes” at any given point in time. Travelling between them, spending time with family in Germany, my home in Cape Town and friends all over the world.
I am lucky enough to do what I love: share knowledge globally and work with people all over the world. Working in international development, I have on average spend a week a month on the road in 2010 in some far away country. I doubt that this will even be an option over the next 12 months.; for me or any of the other thousands of people working for the UN, multinational development organizations or global corporations, the consulting business, the many NGOs, bilateral partners, investment firms and others with a heavy travel schedule. Once infections are mitigate or contained, no country will allow entry of potentially infected people. As a result I would not be surprised if a boarding requirement is a negative test result; at least until there is a vaccine. Quarantining all business travellers for 14 days just does not seem like a feasible option.
Conferences, trade shows and other mass gatherings are going to be postponed for the foreseeable future.
I am not sure what will happen to holiday makers; I for myself would probably not be deterred by testing before boarding. I would be deterred if I had to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, which of course also would make work travel completely unfeasible.
And in the absence of a vaccine, what will life in public spaces look like? Will we each disinfect our gym lockers before touching them? Maintain a 2 meter distance to everyone in the street, the supermarket, the movies, restaurants and so on?
For the time being my travel is limited to the circumference of my neighborhood. Took a 30 minute bike ride around it - my goodness how the hills get to me. Here I though swimming between 30-45 minutes every day for the past four years would have me pretty fit. Couple that with two hours on the matt four times a week, I should not be as out of breath as I find myself riding around the hood.
Maybe at the end of this #stayathome period I will bike to and from work - 5 miles either way, going uphill all the way home. That would be a great outcome!
Good news of the day: No new infections in China. Is this an indication that lock down or “shelter in place” actually works?