Finding ways to help the front line

The world most of us know is changing day by day, almost hour by hour, as COVID-19 continues to spread. This means that everyone’s response is changing too. But what has not changed is the bravery of those on the front line.

I continue to be humbled by the strength, resilience and care I see. From hard-pressed emergency teams, to the men and women who keep the supply chains going, to those who deliver vital goods. I think about the nurse, the lorry driver, the shop keeper. I think about all our teams, our customers and partners across the world.

Shell is taking action in many different ways to support efforts to halt the spread of this virus.

Our manufacturing plants at Pernis in the Netherlands and Sarnia in Canada are diverting production resources to make isopropyl alcohol as fast as they can. This ingredient makes up about half the content of the hand-sanitising liquids that are helping to stem the virus around the world. 

In the Netherlands, we are making 2.5 million litres available free of charge for the health-care sector.

We are also, of course, taking simple but comprehensive measures to keep people at our plants, facilities and retail sites safe.

Across the world, our forecourts are staying open, staying alert and helping to keep crucial services mobile. In China, for instance, there have been no cases to date among the forecourt teams serving customers. In the Philippines, we are supporting our teams with temporary accommodation, virtual counselling and basic supplies.

But we want to do more. We want to help those who are out there, day in, day out, in other ways.

Starting now, and over the coming days and weeks, in more than 15,000 participating retail sites across 30 countries, we will be providing free food or drink to health-care professionals such as nurses and doctors, as well as truck drivers and the delivery people who are vital to maintaining supplies. We will also offer free access to showers to truck drivers at participating motorway sites. In the UK, as a first step, we have handed out more than 10,000 free sandwiches so far. [1]

 And finally, I want to say something very simple. Thank you. Whether you are caring for patients in a hospital in Shanghai, driving a truck-load of fresh produce across Europe or helping to keep your local community running, you are heroes.

 As this situation evolves, so too will Shell’s response when it comes to our teams and our customers. Stay safe, and, above all, stay well.

[1] Local terms and conditions apply.