Opinion / Venetia Rainey
Keep your options open
How was your weekend? Chances are it was a weird one that was filled with the same conversation on loop, some cancelled social engagements and a little worst-case-scenario contingency planning. Don’t worry, we’re not here to continue the theme. At Monocle we’ve always prided ourselves on focusing on the opportunities, the rays of light, the things you can do that help – even if only in a small way. You’ll have had more than enough advice by now on how to help prevent the spread of the virus – but what about doing your bit to lessen the economic impact of the pandemic?
With tourism heavily impacted, some of the worst-affected companies will be the consumer-facing ones in hospitality and retail. Millions of ordinary people depend on these vital industries for jobs and many of them will be struggling to get by as shifts are cut and the usual supplementary flow of generous tips dries up. It doesn’t need to be like that. Restaurants and cafés already follow strict food-hygiene rules and, rest assured, they will be doing so even more at the moment (remember, too, that your delivery order will still be prepared and transported by humans). At the popular buffet in Singapore’s five-star Royal Plaza on Scotts hotel, for example, the management has introduced measures that include spacing all tables a metre apart, requiring diners to use hand sanitiser when they enter, and taking the temperature of all staff twice a day. Shops are taking similar steps: high-end beauty chain Space NK has instructed staff to stop giving makeovers and treatments as part of a “no touch” policy and is conducting rigorous deep-cleaning of its premises on a daily basis.
Of course, the normal rules should be followed about staying at home if you are sick or you come into regular contact with vulnerable people. But – with a little bit of extra hand washing and common sense – there’s no reason why perfectly healthy people can’t lend their custom to that hotel, bar or shop down the road that’s facing an extraordinarily tricky period ahead. Just don’t forget the hand san.