Exit from lockdown: What next for Expats?
As more countries throughout the world begin their exit from lockdown, what can Expats expect now?
ProACT Sam looks forward to Living with Corona.
Living with the Coronavirus
May 1st is a public holiday in many countries with ancient roots. The Romans celebrated the goddess Flora, while the Greeks and Cypriots held all-night festivals to celebrate the gods Dionysus and Aphrodite, the two lovers synonymous with Paphos and Cyprus the island of love.
May 1st is also the mid point between the quarter days, namely Easter (the start of the spring new year) and the solstice (marking the start of the summer).
What a quarter this is, with most of the world in isolation and lockdown, but now looking to a way forward after WWC - Coping With Corona.
As countries start to announce ways out of economic and social lockdown, the UK have juggled their May Day celebration this year.
UK May Day Victory
The UK moved this year’s 2020 May Day public holiday from the normal Monday to Friday 8th May. This is to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day - victory in Europe day after WW2.
The Queen will broadcast a television message to recreate and celebrate VE Day.
Spring Rising
After Boris Johnson’s ‘rising from his death bed’ on Easter Sunday, there is an end in sight to this stage of the UK’s battle with the Coronavirus and a scheduled announcement this coming Sunday which is expected to include a release plan from lockdown.
Expect the UK to announce ‘VC Day’ - ‘Victory Against Corona’. The victory so far. We then face the beginning of living with corona and a post-lockdown future ahead for Expat families and businesses Living and Working Abroad.
Many countries have already begun to release those trapped in lockdown.
What can we expect ?
How will an exit from lockdown and living with the coronavirus proceed?
Getting back to work following exit from lockdown
Businesses and the employees on their payroll are the consumers in an economy. A government can only spend the tax revenue it raises from the activities of these people.
Business is key to our future wellbeing.
Many important changes will have taken place, some forever, as we witness an acceleration in the adoption of time-saving and money-saving technologies and practices.
As the car replaced the horse, email replaced the letter, mobiles replaced the landline, so rapid escalation in technical innovation (led by consumers) will bring permanent change.
Businesses have a central role to address the concerns of staff and customers going forward.
Consumers concerned for their health will value businesses which take action to proactively protect the health of their customers.
How businesses can protect customers and employees after an exit from lockdown
The social distancing and hygiene rules we have already seen will be extended to all businesses.
Business owners and employers must be mindful to:
Enforce social distancing measures for staff and customers.
Promote facilities to all and encourage regular washing of hands.
Provide gloves to avoid contact between people through the items they handle.
Use of wet wipes and gels that allow hygienic cleaning of communal surfaces like door handles, railings, tills and computers.
Probable Cause
According to Oxford University scientists, after exiting from lockdown, the probability of death if you catch the coronavirus is approximately the same as the probability of death each of us had at the start of 2020.
Clearly it’s still better not to catch corona.
A mixture of rational and irrational fears regarding corona will emerge amongst the general public as lockdown rules are relaxed. Businesses need to understand these concerns for employees and customers and adapt business operations accordingly.
Value of Life
We have all seen a steady stream of reporting regarding domestic tragedies, sudden deaths at home, mental health issues and the concerns of those whose medical treatments and diagnosis have been put on hold by the Coronavirus crisis.
They represent the changes we can already see in the conditioning and thinking of us all in our behaviour and values.
People come out of lockdown as different people.
Spring Lockdown Release into Midsummer
Exit from lockdown will lead to great change and transformation in the ways of the world.
While pent up consumer demand will be released, old ways and old demands may no longer cut it.
As consumers and businesses we need to consider how to adapt to the new world order.
VC Day on 8th May in the UK will mark a Celebration of the end of the WWC - Coping With Corona war. A 9th May announcement and subsequent relaxation of lockdown guidelines marks the start of the rebuilding process for all business.
There will be a step by step parole release from lockdown that will drive innovation and change.
With a spring in our step, we can cross this river to start returning to normal by midsummer, knowing it would be madness not to embrace the opportunities and challenge of change to rebuild our world Living and Working Abroad.
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WWC - Coping with Coronavirus
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ProACT Know How
ProACT Expat Experts are here to help, if you need help and assistance Living and Working Abroad. We can offer free reviews and guides to Expat businesses and families on adapting to the new world of opportunity. Contact us today.
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