We need to prepare for the new

normal

SHOOTING STRAIGHT - Bobit S. Avila (The Philippine

Star 

) - April 28, 2020 - 12:00am

We are exactly a month old with our enhanced community quarantine (ECQ)
and the last report I got from the Department of Health (DOH) on the COVID-
19 cases is 7,579 on the number of cases all over the Philippines, while of this
number 862 have already recovered and total deaths have reached 501. For
a nation of more than a hundred million, these figures are quite small… but it
is hoped that we can get the right medicine for this virus that has spread
around the world.

If there is any good news I heard lately, it is that the Earth is healing quite fast.
Remember the dreaded Ozone Layer in the northern atmosphere? I got a
scientific report that this hole has not shut down and no longer a treat to
humanity. Before the COVID-19 forced the nations on this earth to lockdown,
our air was so polluted. Today the polluted air has disappeared because
people are not going out anymore. This is the positive thing happening with
our planet Earth.

Remember the old saying, “In the end China will win?” Fortunately for the
Chinese people, this was already happening to them, as they have become a
world economic power. However, I started to focus on the relationship of
Communist China and the rest of the nations that COVID-19 has awaken…
most nations have literally surrendered their manufacturing capability to China
because it makes things very cheap. Politicians of almost all nations submit to
China’s cheap labor because this is actually ordained by the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP) that wages are to be controlled so that in the end…
China controls the needs of the world by manufacturing what the world needs
so cheaply. Then later on they raise prices!

What has the COVID-19 debacle taught our world leaders? That surrendering
their manufacturing businesses to China was a huge mistake (In Rome for
instance, all their tourism objects including religious statues for sale are made
in China). Not only for their economy, but today 95 percent of pharmaceutical
companies are based in China and in the end because they now control this
business they can overprice medical products and the world is helpless to
fight this issue.

Remember in 2016 when Donald Trump run for President? His mantra was
“America First” and today, Americans are waking up to this reality that Pres.
Trump was correct. Now, thanks to this coronavirus, nations like Germany,
Sweden, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and many African and
European nations have lately realized their mistake in surrendering their
manufacturing to Communist China because of their cheap prices which
actually comes from cheap labor allowed by the CCP. Many of these nations
want China to pay reparations for destroying their economies. This is going to
be a major global issue in the coming year.

While the rest of the world are trying to restart their economy… world leaders
should wake up to the new order after the COVID-19 and this is for them to
restart their manufacturing processes that they once gave up to China.
Perhaps the G-7 should meet up and come up with new guidelines for the
world to follow. Look at Japan… they are paying Japanese companies to
move out of China and set up their businesses in Japan.

At this point, I would like to suggest to the Duterte government to try and get
some Japanese companies to set up in the Philippines. After all, we know too
well that Japanese companies that open in the Philippines are doing very well.
A great example is the Tsuneishi Heavy Industries that build huge cargo
vessels in Balamban, in the Western side of Cebu Island.

I know that Pres. Duterte is very friendly to China… but he should be apprised
as to what China has been doing to the rest of the world while we also restart
our economy.

Meanwhile I got this report from Sen. Cynthia Villar that workers from the
agriculture, construction and manufacturing sectors should be allowed to
return to work to prevent widespread hunger, social unrest and criminality that
may be triggered by the prolonged enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in
Luzon and other parts of the country.

However, since last week when I suggested to our 24 Senators for them to
immediately stop the construction of the P8.9 billion new Senate building
located in an 18,320 square meter parcel of land owned by the Bases
Conversion and Development Authority, located at the Navy Village in Fort
Bonifacio. But lo and behold… I only heard a deafening silence from our
Senators! I hope that Sen. Cynthia Villar would sponsor a resolution to
immediately stop the construction of this new Senate building as it is ultra
extravagant and the country has no need to house only 24 Senators in a so
expensive edifice. I further suggested that the Senate funds a new hospital
ship that can dock in many places in the Visayas and Mindanao that has no
hospitals at all. But still no word from our Senators! Hoy gising na kayo!
d States, public life is increasingly shut down. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a ban on gatherings of
more than 50 people for the next eight weeks in the United States.

While many organizations are moving to remote work, some

companies work with proprietary systems or with sensitive materials
that require employees, or shifts of people, to be on-premise to get
their job done well. As champions of a great work experience, we
want to help everyone stay healthy in the office while sharing
common workspaces.

This post is meant to cover the basics of creating a healthy and

sanitary work environment. We believe workplace wellbeing extends
not just to cleaning and disinfecting the office, but to good
communication and signage strategies, and healthy office culture for
COVID and beyond. We hope these tips for office safety will provide
both knowledge and peace of mind as we navigate this critical public
health issue.

Cleaning guidance from the CDC

While the spread of the virus might feel unavoidable, the fact is that
good cleaning and disinfection routines can greatly reduce or
eliminate the viral count of COVID-19 on surfaces and objects in the
office. 

The CDC has provided detailed instructions on how to clean and

disinfect workspaces, as well as a list of EPA-Approved disinfectants
known to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes
COVID-19). While the CDC guidance should be read, understood, and
followed closely, here are a few key points you should know before
you begin:

 Use disposable gloves, gowns and a mask for cleaning and disinfection.
Carefully remove and throw them away immediately after disinfection and
trash disposal.

 Always clean before beginning disinfection. Cleaning with a detergent

or soap and water solution removes particles that can carry the COVID-19
on surfaces. This reduces the viral load before disinfection begins, which
helps the disinfectant to be more effective in killing the remaining virus.

 While there is a list of EPA-approved disinfectants, one easy-to-access

solution is household bleach and water. The CDC recommends:

 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water. (Good for

floors and larger surface cleaning.)

 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water (Handy for spray bottle

applications.) 

 If using disinfecting wipes (such as Clorox or Lysol wipes) remember

that to properly disinfect, you should clean only one item at a time, using
enough wipes to ensure the surface stays wet for 4 minutes. 

 Remember to never mix cleaning products together. 

 Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in common areas (e.g.

tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, phone receivers and
keypads, remotes, handles, touchscreens, desks, toilets, sinks).

 Clean and disinfect shared electronics and equipment, digital signage,

and touch-screen kiosks. 

Communication and signage on COVID-19 in

the workplace
They say sunshine is the best disinfectant; in this case, the bright light
of good communication is one of your first and best defenses against
the physical and emotional aspects of navigating coronavirus. Be
prepared to reassure and support employees who may be going
through a range of emotions and personal challenges as a result of
the virus and containment efforts:

 Provide clear, concise and well-worded updates that are relevant to

your location, industry, and current work culture. Communicate in a timely,
calm manner.

 Offer channels for support and two-way communication. Create a

space for your staff to reach out with their concerns and needs; where
possible, make accommodations for specific needs that arise. 

 Provide signage around the office that will keep everyone mindful of
safety: good respiratory hygiene, cleaning recommendations, social
distancing, and symptom checks. The CDC has developed a series of
printable materials and posters for use in community settings.
In the event that you need to coordinate some of your company
to work from home while others from the office, or eventually,
everyone working from home, here are some tips on how to
manage that transition:

 Continue to provide clear, concise and well-worded updates that are

relevant to your location, industry, current work culture, and overall state
of the pandemic. Communicate in a timely, calm manner.

 Make sure tech is consistent across the entire company including

communication, video conferencing, project management, and
collaboration tools.

 Continue to clean all spaces in the office, shared or not, and push
everyone to wipe down their desks and equipment as soon as they’re done
for the day. This is especially important if people are sharing spaces and if
teams switch off working in the office.

 Create an internal communication channel (we use Slack at Robin) to

post relevant company updates.

 Keep team communication consistent. It’s easy for team collaboration

to decrease without face-to-face interaction making it that much more
critical that communication is prioritized with daily or weekly posts, emails,
 and video calls. With that being said, be mindful of how much time you’re
taking out of the workday to check in through video calls. 

 Don’t forget to value social and recharge interactions, beyond just

“work talk”. Encourage digital get-togethers in the form of team lunches,
happy hours, and group downtime via video calls when needed.

 Check in with your team early and often to gauge what’s working and
where people need extra support.

 Promote a work-life balance for everyone, especially working parents.

Social distancing requires lots of downtime at home which can result in an
unclear blend of work and non-work activities.

Back in the office? Steps you can take to keep

your office safe
If you’ve spent time working from home as a preventative measure,
it’s the best time to institute optimal hygiene practices and solutions
that can reduce the spread of viruses and colds (which is always
welcomed, whether COVID-19 is a concern or not). Some ideas
include:

1. Increase the availability of disinfecting wipes and virus-killing hand

sanitizers, and be sure everyone knows how to use them effectively. As an
added touch, quality unscented lotion around the office will keep everyone
from drying out while keeping their hands clean. Encourage everyone in
the office to commit to regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces.

2. Continue to improve professional cleaning and disinfecting procedures

within the office to reduce the occurrence of germs and bacteria in the
workplace. 

3. Where possible, rely on touch-reducing amenities, such as double-

swinging push doors, motion sensor lights, and other hands-free amenities
that reduce germs in high-traffic areas.

4. If flexible seating is an option in your office and people share desks,

require everyone to clean equipment, workstations, and surfaces as soon
as they leave or move to a different spot.
 —

Using these guidelines, you can confidently help your staff navigate
the challenges of this global public health issue. Should you have any
questions or concerns about COVID-19 at home, school, or in the
office, you can find more resources provided by the CDC here.