Brace for Impact
Suraj Talreja
September 23, 2024
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4 min read
Let me cut to the chase: the coronavirus pandemic is real. And don’t just take my word for it. @LizSpecht from The Good Food Institute runs a quick back-of-the-envelope calculation to estimate the potential magnitude of impact.
In summary, we can expect a doubling of cases every six days—a typical doubling time across several epidemiological studies. This could lead to an estimated 2-6 billion infections by July this year.
Importantly, even if she is wrong – even very wrong by days or weeks – the fact remains that most of the population is immunologically naïve to this virus.
With no well-studied treatment and no viable vaccine in sight, the only effective way to control the coronavirus pandemic is to reduce the opportunities for it to spread. Follow this set of loose guidelines to take actions that can make a difference. This thread on getting home isolation right is particularly helpful.
Many of us have been inundated with statistics and precautions around the pandemic. While it may seem redundant to add to the noise, it's important to communicate measures and encourage action responsibly. How we communicate with family, colleagues, and customers reflects our culture and builds our reputation. We've designed our version of this communication, which you can find here. Feel free to download and share it. Our design team is also available to customize it with your logo, bandwidth permitting.
At Classcard, we’ve established simple guidelines for working from home. You can read them here. It almost feels unethical not to move to remote work right now.
It is highly likely that most of us will experience a drop in business activity. Sequoia’s note to its portfolio of founders & CEOs suggests that preparing for the worst is prudent. While these are undoubtedly challenging times, we can alleviate the business impact by defining a "new normal."
Consider these tools for synchronous communication:
For asynchronous communication:
You can reuse internal tools for external needs. For online teaching and recording classes, consider:
You may want to record classes and make them available for students who cannot join live sessions. YouTube allows you to upload unlisted videos that can be viewed only by those with the link.
Additionally, @Suhail has put together a slow, steady, but sure thread on surviving the pandemic-induced recession.
Finally, I cannot emphasize enough the need to be kind—abnormally kind—right now. Be patient with customers as they adapt to online meetings. At Classcard, we are extending our trial period from 14 to 30 days with free setup sessions and have integrated with all major online teaching tools. Be flexible with colleagues working from home, and most importantly, be kind to yourself. Stay safe, and stay at home.
PS: I’ve never felt more productive. The last time I worked in pajamas near my refrigerator, I became a qualified chartered accountant.
PPS: Please reach out if we can be of any help. Take care of each other.
👋 Waving from >2m away.