Month: March 2020

While some businesses have been able to remain operational by sole traders, employers and employees working from home.

Many businesses have been devastated by the crisis. The types of trade which have been affected most severely by the pandemic so far are the hospitality sector and non essential retail.

Some businesses such as cafe’s, restaurants and fast food outlets are operating at reduced capacity with take away or delivery services as the only option to sell their products. Truly a very difficult situation for many of these businesses who are struggling to meet overheads while operating at a reduced capacity.

Many other businesses have been closed completely. The businesses which are shut still have the complication of paying bills and other overheads even while closed down and many may not reopen.

The government is doing their best to promise help to struggling businesses in the after math of the COVID 19 epidemic. But the true cost could be astronomical to get many businesses back up and running.

Economic experts have stated that recession is inevitable and will be significant.

Businesses are Reeling in the Midst of the Crisis.

The above businesses are struggling as reported in the Daily Mail and Irish Mirror and consumers are missing the kinds of services and diverse availability of goods.

However there are businesses which are flourishing during the COVID 19 crisis.

Supermarkets and foodstores have been swamped with customers to the extent that there have been measures put in place to discourage consumers from bulk buying and visiting food stores too often.

At the moment it appears these are the main businesses which are turning over more money than ever. Due to food and essential household items being the one product people need at home they were struggling to keep shelves stocked. The introduction of new rules across the sector have been necessary to lessen disruption of the availability of goods reaching shelves from suppliers in time. Also crowding was a problem and now only a certain number of people may be in the supermarket at one time to lessen the risk of virus transmission in supermarkets. Social distancing rules have also now been implemented in all supermarkets.

Living in isolation has been a varied and challenging experience for all involved across the world. In Ireland and in many other countries a garden has suddenly become an even more important feature of a household in recent times and I am lucky to be living on a property with a garden.

To help break up the monotony and lack of social contact. We have been growing flowers salads and vegetables. watching them grow has been rewarding in a time where there is so much sadness and lack of growth around the world.

This has been a very enjoyable pass time to temporarily divert our attention from the devastation caused by COVID 19 and do something constructive and healthy.

COVID 19 knows no borders however flowers borders and vegetable allotments will flourish around the country are flourishing during the crisis.

The age old healthy delight of watching a plant grow from seed has been adopted as a choice of therapy and enjoyment around the country for many with the resources to do so.

rachel dunleavy in theflow