There’s been a lot of discussions about COVID-19. This includes the virus’ spread, canceled events and a shortage of items like hand sanitizer and toilet paper. What should you do to protect yourself, your business and your customers? Below is a few coronavirus tips for entrepreneurs to keep businesses running. But first, let’s start with the basics about the coronavirus.
What exactly is COVID-19?
Coronaviruses are a type of virus, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine organization’s website. A newer type of this virus has caused a recent outbreak of respiratory illness now called COVID-19 that started during late 2019.
COVID-19 symptoms can include (ranging from mild to severe):
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or Pneumonia
How can I protect myself from COVID-19?
You may have heard that this type of the coronavirus tends to be more serious for older people and people who already have other health problems. But it’s still very important to protect yourself and help prevent spreading this virus to your family members, friends, customers and others.
Here’s how you can protect yourself and others.
- Regularly clean/wipe your phone, laptop and other surfaces you use/touch often during a typical day.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- No soap available? Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw that tissue in the trash.
- Feeling sick? Stay home. Call (or have your parents call) your doctor who will advise you on the next best steps to get the care you need. Here are more tips on how to take care of yourself when you’re not feeling well.
Coronavirus Tips for Entrepreneurs
Here are some ways to keep your business running during the current COVID-19 outbreak:
- Watch what’s happening around you.
Sure, the news can be depressing and boring. But even a quick look for a few minutes at news TV shows or their blogs can keep you in the know about how the virus might affect your customers, shipping your products, and other parts of your business.
- Reconsider plans for upcoming public events.
Planning a big launch party for your new product? Keep in mind that some medical professionals are advising people to avoid crowds and events for at least the next couple of weeks, particularly where 100 or more people might gather in a building.
You might have to put certain parties, conferences and other events on hold, if these events’ organizers haven’t already done so.
- Get creative about running your business.
Now is a good time to look at other ways to run your business, if you haven’t done so already. For example, some entrepreneurs are finding ways to do more work from home and limit working in public places.
You can also look for ways to cut your business costs and/or use money from a savings account, if you think the recent coronavirus outbreaks will slow down sales for your business.
The Takeaways: Be Smart and Make Plans
The recent news about the recent outbreak of a type of coronavirus, or COVID-19 has caused some people to have two extreme reactions: Total panic or not caring at all about the illness.
Entrepreneurs, and others, should fall somewhere in the middle. Extreme panic can lead to bad decisions that do more harm than good to you and others. At the same time, you should be aware of how the spread of COVID-19 could affect you and those around you.
That’s why it’s important to:
- Keep your hands and the surfaces you use as clean as possible.
- Stay aware of COVID-19 news and updates.
- Reconsider plans for public events.
- Consider other ways to run your business.
