Handling Covid using routines

I wrote a long article about upcoming recession and shared it with my inner circle. Most told me we don't need more things to worry about now, virus is enough for this month ??Now you don't have to add to the panic with this article ?? So i stopped myself from posting the article for the sake of the context.

But I was wondering why i am not so panicky and why am i not so worried inspite of having three old people with comorbidities at home whose immunity is compromised most of the times. For example: My mother in law is 74 years old has COPD and only 25% of her lungs are active in normal days. This has been the case for 4 years now. Imagine a Covid on her!

Truth to be told, I did scenario planning spanning from hand wash rituals all the way to cremation possibilities in this novel context. The planning included handling maids, their families, provisions, and everything in between. All of this in its due intensity but not so much panic. I will credit the problem solver in me to cope with the situation (any situation for that matter). It has nothing to do with zen etc. It is just being a designer and that is all.

My job as a designer is always to diverge, dream and then converge and become pragmatic. That is exactly what is keeping me sane in this situation as well. While i don't want you to worry about cremation right now, i do want to share you some simple tips from a system designer's perspective so that you can lighten up the cognitive load to your brain during such hard times. Now that we are entering stage 3 and above of Coronavirus a certain routines can help.

Going to the core of this virus, it clearly shows that we need to break the chain to stop human to human transmission. We are the carriers for gods sake!

A few ways to increase the probability of success is by following the routines below.

1. Take social distancing very seriously at-least for your family. Just don't go out. Period. Every time you have to go out, ask a simple question, should i go out now? and if i don't go out now will it threaten my survival (going out vs virus)? For example buying vegetables, try and use big basket vs going to big bazar. The idea is to reduce the probability of virus in you and in your family members. Meeting one guy and taking a chance vs meeting 100+ folks in a bazar, i would prefer meeting that one delivery person.
2. Let us say you are quarantined at your home as per step 1. Then it gets a lot easier to break the chain. Manage the inputs and outputs so that the blackbox in between is kept intact. For example: Every time someone comes from outside, say your maid, driver etc, ensure they go through a simple routine of washing hands and legs with a Dettol soap before coming inside. A fresh towel to be given. If placebo helps give a mask as well as societies are asking them to wear. If you are very disciplined, take temp using an infrared thermometer and make a mark everyday for next few weeks for whoever steps inside the home (I know that there are no symptoms for 5-6 days). If the temp is above 98.7 F then take the necessary next steps.
3. As a routine everyone at home goes through a hand washing routine every 1 hour. No excuses here. Ring a bell or call out or something. Make them do it.
4. Reduce deliveries in the first place. But if you have to handle it, when a delivery comes in, open the pack, take out the stuff, immediately put the carton boxes out in the garbage area and wash your hands. Only one person handles all deliveries and let that be someone who has a little more immunity. Wash, sanitise and repeat for every delivery.
5. If you are going out, please wash, sanitise and then go. It will help others. Be considerate of your fellow beings.
6. If you went for a walk or cycling, when you step into home, go ahead and wash your hands and use a fresh towel to wipe before coming in. This is a routine for everyone who steps inside. No excuses.
7. Put out your bedding in the sun everyday. The premise is any virus cannot handle extreme temperatures (surely Hyderabad). If it doesn't kill the virus, at least you have a crispy fresh bedding every evening.
8. Wash your clothes everyday and sun dry them. No excuses.
9. Take bath twice in a day. Everyone at home.
10. Clean your doors, door knobs, rails, floors using a simple disinfectant morning and evening as a routine. If you have minions at home (aka kids), put them to work.

These routines can keep you sane and non-panicky. You are doing your best and this is all you can do at the moment. Don't be stupid and argue the hell out of every-step mentioned with 100+ research papers. Just wash your hands and stay safe. All you need is a few Dettol bars here and there at home. Once it becomes a habit (which will take at least 60 days) it gets automatic. Till then keep reminding folks and don't get tired or irritated.

At the end of the day, if you need to go through an infection or a cremation, it is what it is. I am just being a pragmatic. You could do so much everyday. Simple routines everyday will prevent things and make it a little easier for you and your family. Enjoy this together times. We don't know how long this is going to last. Let us make the most of it!

In a nutshell, control the input and you are largely ok. Enhance your routines, enhance your success! Simple things go a long way. We can only enhance the probability of success. We are unable to eradicate at the moment. Stay safe. Wash your hands.