There are just three colours to guide the traffic all over the world, we have just 3 financial statements, and in our government system just 3 subsystems Legislative, Executive and Judiciary. In science, Newton, compressed the whole chaos in the world to just 3 laws of motion. And then we have trilogy, trinity and triangulation all related to 3.
Any wonder, why the power of 3 is so strong?
The reason; it provides extreme focused way to put your arms around just the sufficent things that can guide you to all other aspects of that discipline. Everything else is just a part of these and obey them without question. This avoids chaos, confusion, noise and distraction, when the system becomes complex. How come, we have not yet, figured out 3 Laws that can help us simplifying and structuring our fight against COVID-19. Here is the help.
Kristen defined the fight against COVID-19 of being operational in nature. And, the reading of Derek Thompson in the Atlantic was insightful about the rules of dealing with COVID-19. Clearing all the noise around, here we present the laws, precisely 3, for fighting COVID-19. For this, we derive inspiration from Eli Goldratt’s Law’s of Operations.
Objective: Progression of Life is the prime objective of humanity.
Alternatively, saving life is unquestionable. There is no trade-off between life and other things, say life and livelihood. Rather, no problem should ever be framed as a conflict between life and any other thing. Everything subordinates to Life.
If the objective is clear then, it must be recognized that cities are the epicentre of growth with high density population, hence by design they are the most economically active and health wise risky locations(in the context of pandemic). Covid-19 has come from outside country and landed first in cities. Urban poor living in compromised conditions (in developing countries) are the most vulnerable, both from virus and the aftereffects (livelihood, lockdown) of measures to contain virus.
And hence, the 3 Laws of managing the fight against COVID-19 systematically, are as given below and in the mentioned order.
Law-1: First secure the living of vulnerable citizens to stop working and almost immediately, implement the required measures of social distancing.
This means, looking ahead and taking action now, to immediately secure what could become the weakest link of the system i.e. life and livelihood of urban poor. Similar economic support for rural poor, if other support measures not in place.
Law-2: Focus attention on Science to fight Virus.
The core domain of epidemic is in Science. Do intensive testing and tracing (the initial weakest link of the system), and have the mindset of right priority. Build focused capacities and capabilities at war footing, to go ahead of virus.
Commit and Build healthcare, medical device and drug development industry without any compromise.
Law-3: Initiate, pausing companies, help them shift their expenses to the future.
Wages are not the only burden of operating companies. Be Generous, in funding crisis of lockdown and the pseudo-balance between demand and supply. Incremental small supports, however, well intended may not make significant impact in this emerging situation at national level. Help needed is in an order of magnitude.
These 3 laws if applied, will make our actions true to our objective.