The new Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has transformed the world we live in.
Currently, more than a third of the population is struggling to contain the spread of this disease that has already affected millions of people. In addition to all the human suffering, the coronavirus is affecting the economy.
It is already possible to see how the coronavirus is affecting the logistics and supply chain as a whole. While we do not have a solution for this problem, it is necessary to think of alternatives to minimize the impacts on both employees and the financial health of your business.
Coronavirus and Supply Chain Management
The Central Bank (BC) has lowered its projection for this year's Gross Domestic Product (GDP): the expected expansion of 2.2% has been reduced to zero. Meanwhile, several sectors of the economy are already preparing for an economic downturn.
After all, one of the main recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) is precisely social isolation. As a result, many companies have had to reduce the number of employees on the factory floor to meet this demand — which has caused some sectors to come to a standstill.
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However, there is reason to be optimistic. With people avoiding leaving their homes, e-commerce has seen an unprecedented increase in sales, directly impacting the management of the corporate logistics supply chain.
For example, transport logistics is facing two problems: high demand, combined with the urgency of orders, while there is a lack of raw materials and available labor. This is undoubtedly a major challenge, but it shows how logistics and supply chain management must innovate and gain efficiency in internal flows. This will bring excellent results after the crisis.
All the more so because road transport and the logistics chain are essential and strategic activities for the functioning of the economy. Managers need to show that it is possible to set an example in the supply chain, avoiding shortages of food, medicines and other essential products.
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About Coronavirus
While we're on the subject, we can't help but emphasize the seriousness of COVID-19. As of April, the disease has affected over 60,000 Brazilians, resulting in 4,000 deaths. Therefore, it is important to have as much information as possible to help stop the spread of the disease.
The coronavirus is mainly transmitted through contact: shaking hands, sneezing, coughing and contaminated objects/surfaces, such as cell phones, tables, computers, etc. According to the Ministry of Health, symptoms can range from a simple cold to severe pneumonia — however, the most common are dry cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat and difficulty breathing.
Even though it is a pandemic, there are ways to protect yourself from the disease. The most effective way is through social isolation, but this is not always possible. If you need to go out, it is recommended that you wear a cloth mask and maintain a minimum distance of about 2 meters from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
It is also necessary to wash your hands up to your wrists frequently, using soap and water. If you prefer, you can use 70% alcohol gel. If everyone does their part, together we will beat COVID-19!
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