COVID-19 - The Business Traveller

1 million deaths world-wide have been recorded since the pandemic started. World Health Organisation and the USA have announced a new 'rapid' test for COVID-19 - is this the key to eradicating this virus? Cases are on the increase all over Europe.

There are certain steps that need to be followed and adopted in order to combat this virus but yet Government's have been slow to implement them. Why? It is well known that masks and social distancing is the only thing that works and as soon as they are relaxed, cases increase. It now seems to be the younger generation now that are getting the virus but a version that lasts for 1-2 weeks so has the virus mutated to a flu like virus and should we call it the 'Flurona Virus'.

I am quite amazed that I was able to travel to Dubai and was waiting for new rules to be implemented with immediate effect as cases increase in both the UK and UAE. Here in Dubai however there are stations that take nasal swabs and results are sent by email within 24 hours. Why is the UK so behind? Why is testing both the throat in 5 places and the nasal swab needed when in most other parts the world only the nasal swab is carried out. Surely this is a huge waste of resources and money? Aside from that the throat swab was horrific and why would any child be put through that unnecessarily? I understand that there is a spit swab manufactured by a company in the UK and will be contacting them on my return. It cost me over ￡300 as I had to get this done through a private surgery as testing was not available for business travellers on the NHS! Does a business in this climate really have this kind of money to spend on on testing whilst trying to keep their business going? I think it is appalling and yet again the UK Government are doing nothing to assist those that have to travel to keep their businesses going.

I am here in Dubai for business purposes and amazed that nothing happened prior to leaving at either end to shut the trip down, especially with cases rising in both countries. Flying here during COVID times was definitely a new experience. The world has changed and in honesty, I don't see things going back to how it was before - not ever. Flying Business Class was a new experience with the bare minimum on offer, the world has become a virtual reality with zoom meetings and home shopping and for some businesses perhaps this should be considered to be a positive step for them rather than a negative one. Large offices spaces are really not required any more as most people have been able to carry on their work from home, so perhaps 'sharing facilities' will be a thing of the future. As the virus mutates, the world's response has rotated and it will be interesting to see how things develop post COVID-19. As for the Business Travellers, the Governments must put in place a plan to help those of us who have to continue to travel to keep our Businesses going even during these trying times.