[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There are some stories that have the potential to scare the (ahem) stuffing out of us. And not all of them are authored by Stephen King.
The unfolding tale of the Novel Coronavirus , also known as the 2019-nCoVor nCoV, is one of them.
Here at ALAN we’ve been monitoring the situation closely, including taking part in discussions with government and private sector partners and posting various helpful links to help connect your organization with meaningful data and advice.
Meanwhile, we would be remiss if we didn’t also share two of the most important tools we know for keeping supply chains – which after all, are largely dependent on healthy people – as safe as possible during times like these.
Clean Up Your Act
The first is called soap and water. More specifically it’s called using your company’s safety briefings and other communications methods to remind your employees and temps to wash their hands well – and often.
Seems quite simple, I know. Yet surprisingly it’s a reminder that many people still need, especially at this time year, when a few extra seconds at the faucet could be the key to killing many of the germs that cause not just nCoV but all manner of winter ailments. (And on a personal note, it’s one I wish some people around me had heeded earlier last month, because I wound up with a wicked case of the flu!)
Avoid The Rumor Mill
The second tool is equally simple: Reliable and up-to-date information. There’s an abundance of it out there thanks to organizations like the CDC and World Health Organization. And there’s a great deal you can do with it (such as posting signs, sending advisory e-mails or hosting a webinar) to keep your employees as well-informed as possible about how to keep themselves well-protected.
Without such information, people often tend to panic, and that’s rarely healthy scenario for anyone.
Don’t Panic. Prepare.
By writing these things, I don’t mean to downplay the very real danger this new Coronavirus has already posed — or that it has the potential to pose if left unchecked. Like some of the major hurricanes that threaten our coasts each year, it undoubtedly bears watching – and respecting.
Instead, I am merely reminding you that whether we’re facing a global health emergency or something comparatively minor, a little extra preparation and protective action on our part could make a world of difference.
Here’s wishing all of us a healthy and happy February. (And P.S. Please pass the soap.)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
