#LettertotheEditor – Turks and Caicos Islands – March 30, 2020 — The world’s focus remains on COVID-19 as the virus continues its international spread.
We see this every time. Every, single, time something mysterious
happens. The worst-case scenario is assumed. People behave irrationally in a
panic.
Then more knowledge we gained. Uncertainty is resolved.
People calm down. The market recovers. With coronavirus news sweeping the world, it is easy
to get caught up in the daily reports.
The result can be the exact opposite of what these measures
are trying to achieve – protecting people rather than exposing them to risk and
frightening. Instead, people dash to stores to over-stock up on items when they
don’t need it. It is appropriate to be concerned and to make suitable
preparations.
We need to be aware that even for those who catch the virus,
the majority will be fine. What is important is to minimize the risk of
spreading the virus to those who might not be fine if they catch it. Basic
hygienic practice: wash your hands thoroughly, use sanitizers, keep your
distance from people, avoid shaking hands, isolate yourself if you have
symptoms or feel you might have been exposed to someone with the virus. These
aren’t things that will change your world – but they can help to reduce the
spread of germs and the virus, and that might stop it from reaching others.
As much as the coronavirus has medical consequences, so too
it has become clear that it has economic consequences. For many, those
consequences are immediate – and as pressing as the health concerns.
Among those to feel the sting are personnel in the
hospitality industry, who were asked to take their earned vacation days or,
ominously, to volunteer to take two weeks of unpaid leave.
We would hope that hoteliers remember living high on the
income of tourism over many years as it makes decisions that affect the income
of those who helped play a key part in making the most of those good days. We
would hope the same for other businesses too – to look at the long game and
consider what they can do to keep things going until those good days come
again.
Although growth rates in the tourism sectors have already
declined. Many hotels have experienced cancellations over the immediate period
and well into the next winter season. With
a reduction in the numbers of hotel guests and patrons of restaurants as well
as the numbers renting vehicles, earnings in the sector have dropped; jobs are
being lost and government revenues are declining.
But the spread of the virus will peak. Our economies will
recover.
Until then, we must act together to slow the spread of the
virus and look after each other.
Even though the situation has been classified as a pandemic,
it is one we can control. We can slow down transmissions, prevent infections
and save lives. But that will take the unprecedented personal and national engagement.
COVID-19 is our common enemy. We must declare war on this
virus.
Submitted by Ranaldo A. Forbes
