The lasting Impact of Corona Virus

               By this time, the whole world is girding up to handle the Corona Virus Pandemic. This has driven home some key aspects of life and work.

               The first and foremost is that for better or worse, we are a global village. The fact that one infection in Wuhan province has sped through the world at a breath taking pace should make us pause. This kind of impact will cause a few changes that have lasting impact.

How we work:

               The office complexes of the past will be over. Most who can work from home will be asked to do so. Travel for work will be a luxury very few will be allowed. Even when traveling, customers may take precautions. “Namaste” is passe. The Buddhist one handed palm to chest will be the new “handshake”.

How we shop:

               There will be fewer “hands” in the supply chain. It is very likely that Amazon, Costco, WalMart, Kroger and a few grocery systems will survive. All food will go through a “pasteurization” process.

How we travel:

               Travel will become a luxury just like in the days of yore. We will most likely enjoy the Taj Mahal or the Pyramid through drone 360 views.

Health Care:

               There will be a massive “Manhattan Project”’s to take out the impact of viruses just like atomic energy/weapons, space and the electronic age. We have spliced the gene and now the focus will be the RNA which will yield significant improvements in health outcomes. Doctors will work in Hazmat suits and tele-medicine and tele-diagnostics will be the norm. Hospitals will be more like quarantine zones than public places. Doctors are for better or worse, first responders and will be accorded the same privilege/ respect/treatment.

Education:

               Any education that is not lab based (most non-STEM) will be remotely delivered. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) will be the norm. Think Feynman lectures on Physics but on steroids. The innovations will be in crafting questions, writing innovative point of views and proctoring exams.

Restaurants:

               Most Restaurants will become take-outs with reputations for clean and tasty food will be the key factors.

Hotels/Conventions:

               The hotel will be ramped down significantly and the convention industry will be virtual as well.

Welcome to the touch less/remote economy (sad face).