This is Red Five’s seventh weekly report detailing proactive steps you, your family, or your company can take to be prepared for the week ahead. This report represents work product derived from various reliable sources, and contains the most accurate information available at the time of print. However, it may be based in part upon information provided by third party sources, which may be subject to change at any time.
Medical experts and administration officials warned this week that a second outbreak of COVID-19 in the fall could be more difficult and more complicated than the current outbreak as it would coincide with the start of seasonal influenza. Experts have assured the country that federal, state, and local governments will be better prepared to fight a second wave by developing therapeutics, and stocking up on critical equipment, such as ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Over the last three weeks, we have focused on things you, your family, and your company could do to be prepared and resilient for the week(s) ahead. This week, we are turning our attention to things you can do to plan and prepare for the possibility of reverting to a stay at home situation this fall.
We recommend you take the following steps in order to be prepared and resilient for the week(s) ahead.
- Take stock of what is working well, and what is not working well. Document what’s working and what’s not working for you, your family, and your company. Take note of the highs and the lows. Don’t be too hard on yourself though; this is a novel situation for all involved.
- Reflect on what you would do differently if you were to find yourself in a stay at home situation later on this year. Ask yourself how you would approach the situation next time around. What other resources would you need? What would you do differently to prepare? How could you be more resilient?
- Make a simple checklist—for things you would need for the next time. Start small, and think through the items. You don’t need to create the list in one sitting. Review the list from different perspectives—kids, spouse, elderly parents.
- Include your family members’ feedback, neighborhood inputs, and professional resources to make your plan stronger. Relationships are critical to resiliency, a positive outlook, and emotional health. Rely on professional advice that is based in reality.
- Using your list, make a plan for how you would return to a stay at home, work from home, and/or learn from home environment. Ensure you have the right resources (e.g., food, medicine), communication tools (e.g. laptop, cellphone, chargers), and information (e.g. phone numbers and bank account numbers written down) to execute your plan.
- Keep in mind, this too will pass. We are a resilient country, and a resilient people.