4.6+ million CASES. 312K+ DEATHS! The world is at a stand still after the COVID-19 corona virus out break. If international predictions are to be perceived as true: then a second wave of infections is imminent by September 2020.

German, South Korea and Brazil are some of the international markets already opening up with world giants, UK & US planning the same by June this year. This move, is by many seen as a knee-jerk move propelled by increasing pressure from business owners who have been making mammoth losses since March!

So how did we get here? A time of Ghost towns and quiet Bars.

Back in December 2019, whispers of a flu like disease in Wuhan,China circulated on media platforms. Little did the world know that 6 months later, this would turn into a global pandemic. By March 2020, governments had sanctioned lock-down protocols and reports of corona virus victims were constantly on the uphill climb!

Health workers were overwhelmed and businesses closed; The world economy started struggling and soon enough the IMF (International Monetary Fund) announced back in April that a recession was on their hands.

Here in Uganda, only essential businesses are allowed to open during the gradually increasing ‘quarantine’. The operating sectors are; health facilities, media, security, food stores, selected government bodies,⛽️ stations, telecom companies and recently garages!⚙️ Public transport was banned and limited to those with a sticker or Bodabodas and bike riders, pedestrians and otherwise pregnant women.

At first, the lock-down was to last 2 weeks, then 21 days and predictably another 3 weeks might be announced on the now prime time TV special : the Presidential address or as some prefer calling it, ‘keeping Up with Sevo 📺 With June on it’s way and still not allowed to work, one wonders if the COVID-19 quarantine is the new normal?

With no income and constant expenditure, the lock-down in Uganda 🇺🇬 has affected many low income earners to the point that people living in slams like Kasokoso, Bwaise and so many other places around the country; are going hungry due to lack of food!🍲 Solution? Donation after donation of sacks of rice, beans (claimed to be rotten in some areas) , cash and other relief products have come from top corporate companies, Tribe Kings, celebrities and IMF itself (400million USD) to aid those in in need. So how long can this keep up? What is the government’s strategy or yours? …to start with?

Without a cure in near sight and biologists insisting a viable vaccine is due in 8 -11 months, what can a low income earner or middle class employee do?

ADAPT. Increasingly every individual and family has had to reassess their financial position and refocus expenditure to the current environment. If you had a job last month, you might not have one by August. Companies and businesses have had to either exercise pay cuts or cancel contracts. To those working in Taxis and other halted businesses. It’s been already a tough time. The future is uncertain, therefore you have to…

INNOVATE. Stop waiting for the lock-down to lift and reignite that fire of creativity to think of how else you are going to pay that rent, food, water and all the necessities that you have been used to before. An accountant friend of mine is already making face masks for sale. Life as we know it might never go back to ‘normal’.

PRAY. No matter what happens, GOD is always in your corner. So pray for guidance, ease and health. Surviving this pandemic will not only require your wit, courage and perseverance, it will require the almighty.

When you are pushed to the wall, you either give up and be crushed or find a way to push back. All this is not as simple to do as I might write it but with support from GOD, family and friends. You might simply fit into the NEW COVID-19 NORMAL.