What a year! It’s been a shocker. Apart from the unimaginable and tragic death toll, the pandemic has seen many of us struggling with related issues from losing work to closing businesses and from isolation to other serious mental and physical health problems. Covid-19 took us completely unawares and whilst NHS workers have done the most incredible job on the frontline, the British population has learned a lesson. We must be prepared for anything. A global pandemic was not on the cards and it has taught us that we have to look after ourselves and build strong bodies and resilient minds as we simply have no idea what’s waiting round the corner.
Our fingers, legs and toes are tightly crossed that we’re over the worst of it, now that the vaccine programme has been rolled out so successfully, but the threat of more variants looms large and sensible people are wondering how we can prepare for a Covid resurgence or another pandemic. We don’t mean to be all doom and gloom but there’s serious evidence to suggest it could happen again. And why not, we weren’t expecting this tidal wave, were we?
Individuals and businesses across different sectors are working on their own preparation strategies. In the world of food and drink there’s a heightened awareness of the possibility of more bad news on the horizon. According to a new study by AIB International, 78% of food and beverage executives say they are actively preparing for a future global pandemic, with 30% expecting another one within the next four years and 50% expecting one within the next decade.
So how do we prepare for the worst? As individuals we have to switch our mindsets to be as strong and fit as we can by changing our eating habits to build fitness and strength. Some evidence suggests that there is a link between obesity and the most serious illness from Covid, so why not try to be as healthy as we can be? Food experts and nutritionists suggest that avoiding uncooked meats and cutting down on animal produce could make a difference to our health. Others advocate an entirely plant-based diet and some say simply check packaging to ensure you are eating organic and natural produce, with minimal additives and reduced refined sugar. There is different advice available from many sources but it’s rarely conflicting. Common sense and accepted wisdom amongst health professionals suggests that eating well and exercising at least 3 times a week can improve our physical and mental resilience in boundless ways.
Covid-19 has given our industry a crash course in surviving a pandemic. For those of us who managed to keep our businesses afloat, we’ve had a valuable education.
Right now we’re battling ‘crisis fatigue’ and doing all we can to get ourselves and our sector up and running. Fingers crossed that next time round we’ll be ready. Let’s hope there’s no next time but if a nasty little virus comes our way again, we are braced for survival.