What Should Marketers Do During Corona Virus Epidemic?
“Ask not what Your Country can do for You…”
John Kennedy
Realize that Marketing is BS in current situation.
As much as you love marketing, it’s only a way to spend money, so you or your client can make more money. Doctors, nurses, and folks delivering your Amazon orders are the heros, not marketers. Be humble.
Donate your bloody blood!
Here is a site to find a local center http://www.aabb.org/tm/donation/Pages/Blood-Bank-Locator.aspx. Or if you trust Red Cross only, here is their finder: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive
Help Your Parents and Your Elderly Neighbours!
Do they have enough groceries? Do they need someone to pick up their medicine? Here is how to approach this in the best way possible: https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/03/18/want-to-help-out-your-neighbors-during-coronavirus-here-are-the-dos-and-donts
Wash your hands and obey social distancing rules.
Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home. To practice social or physical distancing:
Stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) from other people
Do not gather in groups
Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings
In addition to everyday steps to prevent COVID-19, keeping space between you and others is one of the best tools we have to avoid being exposed to this virus and slowing its spread locally and across the country and world.
When COVID-19 is spreading in your area, everyone should limit close contact with individuals outside your household in indoor and outdoor spaces. Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it is important to stay away from others when possible, even if you have no symptoms. Social distancing is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Prepare Evacuation Plans.
Use your marketing skills to create a plan and share it with your family to get everyone’s feedback and buy-in. Maybe write a one-pager? What if you live in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut and someone in your family starts showing flu-related symptoms? These states are either already at capacity in terms of hospital beds and ICU beds or are likely to run out soon.
If you are sick, there is a good chance that you will have only mild symptoms. But, you also need to prepare for the chance of getting severely sick. Severe cases tend to worsen about five to 10 days after symptoms start. This means you and your loved ones will have at least 5 days to make sure you are in a position to get quality care if you need it. How? By moving into an area or state that has not been severely impacted and that is projected to have underutilized hospital beds, ICU beds and ventilators.
Yes, travelling while being sick could contribute to spreading the disease. Is it a responsible thing to do? I’d argue it is - as long as you follow all the rules. Wear a mask and gloves everywhere. Minimize travel stops as much as possible, maybe by preparing sandwiches and drinks to go, or maybe even by wearing diapers as this US Astronaut did when she drove to commit a murder. Rent an Airbnb place and pay for extra cleaning. Be upfront with everyone that you are sick.
How to find out where to go?
This site shows the estimates of hospital beds and ICU beds utilization by state:
http://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america/new-york