18 Mar How to commute to work amidst the Coronavirus Crisis
Coronaviruses, the recent virus spread worldwide is known to cause severe respiratory syndrome. These viruses are known to be transmitted from animals to humans. Coronavirus or COVID-19 has exceeded the toll of 2002-2003 during the SARS outbreak, which had also originated in China.
Reports say, as of March 17, worldwide around 7,019 people have deceased due to the viral infection caused by the coronavirus and over 173,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19. The possible signs of infection include cough, fever and shortness of breath. In some severe cases it can even lead to pneumonia, then multiple organ failure and eventually death.
In the month of January, when the virus had started crossing China’s borders, Singapore was destined to face a large-scale outbreak. This tiny city was the third country to report cases of COVID-19, and till date, it has reported approximately 266 total cases.
Ever since the coronavirus outbreak has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), governments came up with the news on the front page of Singapore’s largest daily newspaper requesting people even with mild symptoms to see the doctor immediately and avoid going to school or work.
As a precautionary measure in most countries including Singapore, authorities have effectively put restrictions on travel to and from other countries. Also in areas that are severely affected the government has announced lockdowns of public places like restaurants, bars, movie halls, shopping malls, sports clubs, even school and also issued mandatory work-from-home for the office goers. Such precautions have so far been effective and helped in checking the overall coronavirus infection rate.
Many businesses have either shut down or asked employees to work from home to limit the spread of the virus. But in some sectors, this work from home policy is not applicable. Hence, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the work routine in these sectors has become really complicated and people are forced to go to work.
In Singapore, some Malaysians are known to daily commute to work. But after the announcement in Malaysia, that barred the citizens from leaving the country in order to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, they started making temporary housing arrangements.
So, if you have to go to work amidst this coronavirus crisis you should use your own means to commute and avoid public transport entirely. You can even walk down to your office or take a bicycle ride if your workplace is nearby, taking necessary precautions like wearing on masks. Of your office is far, use your own vehicle to commute and get it disinfected every day.
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