1. I have been thinking a lot about how after this initial &n critical phase of lockdown & physical distancing, how we can begin to reopen & reactivate our economy. We simply cannot go back to "normal" it's too risky.
2. So we will need careful planning & preparation to put in place new procedures to reopen everything from airports to small business. This coming phase may well be as important as the current phase.
3. I have a short report coming today on what cities can do. So stay tuned for that.
4. One thing I have been doing is researching and talking to medical professionals - doctors and dentists - on their thinking and planning for re-opening their own practices/ offices. Some of this may have to scale to other sorts of businesses - hair & nail salons.
5. Here are some of the things they have been saying ... Other business and venues as well as city & state governments can learn from & adapt this kind of thinking for their own purposes.
6. "Use PPEs (personal protective equipment) like the N95 masks and gloves."
7. "Space appointments out more, to avoid/ minimize be no waiting room time."
8. "Patients brought to private rooms upon entering the office, and will complete any paperwork/insurance verification in their own rooms."
9. "Use non-contact infrared thermometers to screen all people entering the office, including employees."
10. "Hand sanitizer at multiple stations."
10. "Prohibit non-patient visitors, drug reps etc from entering office."
11. "When calling patients to confirm appointments, reps screen over the phone for symptoms."
12. "No handshakes, hugs, personal contact." When I moved to Toronto my doctor pointed his elbow at me & said "SARS shake." We'll all be doing more of that.
13. Asian countries/ cities have been doing all of this for awhile. We will need to as well.
14. Medical professionals are trained to think this way. Big corporations & venues have staff & capability to think this through. But what about small business that is stretched to the breaking point already. They will need help & advice.
15. Cities & states can set up tasks forces & teams & networks to provide such advice, and need to begin thinking about this now. We are not just going to wave a magic wand & reopen. Careful preparation is necessary. The time to start is now.
