COVID-19 and variants are still here and worse than most expected. It’s obvious the pandemic is an ongoing catastrophe that has thrown future predictions out the window.
US deaths will soon reach 800,000 (796K as of today – December 15), with projections reaching 1M deaths in March of 2022. Today’s 7-day average for hospitalizations and ICU bed capacity are heading back up, and may reach the peaks of January and September of this year (2021).
Yet there’s good news too
Vaccination status has progressed to 61% of US population – that’s 202,504,037 people, and even 55,121,533 people have been boosted (27.2%). There’s still millions of people who are un-vaccinated and unfortunately they are less likely to be concerned about the health effects of the virus. This means herd immunity is out as a possible stop to SARS-CoV-2.
Other good news in 2021 is that:
- Vaccines & boosters are widely available
- Vaccines can be quickly re-engineered for new variants
- Therapeutics are coming online to help minimize the harmful effects of COVID-19
- We know more strategies to slow the spread (masks) & more ways to minimize hospitalizations & deaths (vaccinations, boosters)
- Many of us are willing to do what it takes to protect public health as well as our own personal safety
Now, about business…
Life and business have a way of going on in the midst of Sturm und Drang (storm and stress), which the last few years qualify for. The following are my most popular articles of 2021 and reflect the nexus where life (read pandemic) and business intersect. At least I hope they do.
Most Popular Articles of 2021
Call it what it is: Healthy Cleaning
Welcome to the Confusion Games
Beware of Gorging on Component Brands
This article was reprinted with permission in ISSA Today Nov/Dec 2021 issue.
From the RFP Stack: How to Format Text-Only Responses
Hourly Wages by Any Other Name
This was one of my favorite articles to write as it lists the many and varied wage types during what initially was a year of raising minimum wages to $15 per hour.
Most Relevant Article from 2020
Rebuilding Trust in the Built Environment
The “Rebuilding Trust in the Built Environment” post was optimistic for a faster end of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has proven wrong. Yet the prescriptions for rebuilding occupants’ trust in the built environment are spot on correct. Even more so now, if that’s even possible.
