The entire world is in overdrive: panic buying, empty shelves, major cities on lockdowns, government bailouts of monumental proportions, a strange virus is surging through planet earth and this is not a blockbuster horror movie.

If it were, the viewing numbers would have been epic and the ‘box office’ grossing in the billions. I’d had to explain to my five-year-old son what is happening, he squirms about the number of deaths. He would ask in bewilderment, ‘Can children also die?’ I tell him, no one has immunity from death. His face always clouded in pain.

He has a million and one questions, but I try to re-assure him that all will be well.

How do you stay free from the pandemic of fake news?

Source Credible Information: Visit reputable sites like the NHS and CDC for all you need to know about the novel coronavirus. Reduce dependence on cowboy journalism who are spreading fear and panic amongst the population.

If you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, self-isolate. If you notice any of the symptoms, stay away from others. 

Be Creative: Once in lockdown, this is the time to be at your creative best. Read extensively, this might be the time to open all those books gathering dust on our bookshelves. You can also use this opportunity to write: you can write a book, pen a blog or a journal of your everyday experiences while living in a world of turmoil.

Assess your Finances: Calculate all your outgoings and incomings. This might be the best time to assess every single expense item. Don’t be afraid to yank off any cost item that might impact your financial health as no one knows for sure how long this will last for. 

Stay Abreast: Be abreast of government support available to individuals, support workers, and businesses. This is the time to follow all news briefings and see how you can benefit from any available support.

Mental Health: Many people have lost their jobs, means of livelihood and are going through a lot of stress. Look at the bigger picture, you’re not alone in this mess. Speak to your bank, mortgage providers, landlords and any of those support networks available to you.

Be Compassionate: This is the time to show support and loyalty to your customer base and employee networks. It’s not the time to implement any price hikes or tariffs increase. Show them you understand. If the government has implemented a policy to support people through these hard times, don’t be a ‘kill joy’ under the banner of company policy. Show empathy and be compassionate. The world will come out of this mess and whatever ‘legacy’ you leave won’t be forgotten in the sands of time.

Shop reasonably: Think about others when stockpiling your house, it’s not yet an apocalypse. Some of us are still hunting for ‘toilet rolls and hand sanitizers.’ Think about the vulnerable people around you and let’s show that we can still be ‘rational’ even amid the chaos.

A big thank you to all the frontline workers and scientists working round the clock to ensure we survive the scourge of Covid-19.