We hope you and your families are safe and enjoyed the virtual tours we proposed in the previous article. We certainly did, because social distancing is now the new norm.
This new world has drastically reduced our physical contacts with other people and we wanted to share our perspective on better connectedness and safety.
iCard is here for you
Thanks to our technology stack and our team’s professionalism and discipline, our services remain uninterrupted and 100% available. Our company was proactive and well-prepared to become part of the solution and get the whole team distanced, yet fully connected, all precautions taken.
The virtual tools that exist today are a blessing. Our software developers keep up with Slack, Jira and everyone is on Skype. At Marketing, we enjoy the power of conferencing with Zoom. Emails keep flying with the speed of light, in the wireless space, to keep the gears oiled and turning, and provide you with the usual excellent money management experience, even with COVID-19 all around us.
Some of our colleagues need to be present at the headquarter but all precautions were taken to minimize any exposure to the now notorious Coronavirus.
We are working very hard to support you in this difficult situation 24/7.
Practical precautions
Taking the responsibility in our hands means we have to take specialists recommendations seriously to prevent a crisis – if this virus spreads uncontrolled, it can overwhelm the hospital systems, with the lack of capacity in such extraordinary circumstances. Many lives could be lost, many lives could be saved.
It rests with our personal decisions to follow the prescribed best practices, coming from the experts, as well as straight from the World Health Organization, and amplified by news media and government agencies.
And we ought to go over the smart things to do in the during Coronavirus outbreak:
1. Re-thinking everyday routines
Protective face masks are for preventing sick people from spreading the disease.
If you are healthy, with no symptoms like high temperature, sore throat, coughing or heavy breathing, let there be enough masks for the people that might need it. See more on hoarding below.
Avoid banknotes and adjust your shopping habits. Cash can effectively carry the virus for days. In this period, you can rely on iCard’s mobile payments with NFC-enables phones. You might want to avoid using contactless debit cards to avoid touching a contaminated PIN pad. iCard Visa debit can be added to the Apple Wallet to pay contactless, with no need to enter PIN. And you can always rely on our virtual cards for secure online shopping.
Catch up with sleep since you’ve got more free time now. After all, many people used to spend a lot of time travelling to work. A positive look at coronavirus reveals that remote working arrangements have freed up time for many.
2. Abide by your own strictest hygiene rules
Wash your hand properly & often, disinfect with other means as much as possible and avoid hugs, kisses and handshakes.
Avoid touching public surfaces such as handrails or doorknobs with bare hands.
Do not touch your eyes, mouth & nose because this is where Coronavirus enters the body most easily.
3. Avoid public spaces and people gatherings
Whenever possible, shop from your home. Remember to keep your cards in iCard – frozen, for maximal protection, because online scams have increased, as of March 16, according to the UK government. Many countries, including the USA, have seen an increase in email phishing and other scams adjusted to exploit fears of coronavirus.
Pay bills online and disinfect deliveries. Avoiding shops and supermarkets as much as possible is be helpful, as much as spraying up any goods delivered, because the virus can last for about a couple of weeks on different surfaces.
4. Postpone parties and family celebrations
Birthdays and sports events can wait. We can’t do much for the latter, but birthdays can still be an awesome family celebration via video if distance and the virus are keeping you separate. Don’t risk disappointing a relative, leaving a child nephew or niece with because you can’t travel. They anticipated seeing you for so long and you have options. You may send instant virtual eGiftCards™ or plastic GiftCards™, that usually arrive in 2-4 days. Both let you upload a custom design image, straight from your phone. iCard debit card deliveries remain fully functional.
Stay in touch with close people and family more often. Some people can start freaking out staying at home. In some countries like Italy, it’s been that bad for a while. Be there.
5. Cancel vacation and travel plans to avoid getting stuck
Even if you got stuck somewhere around the world, don’t panic! Authorities are helpful, educative and it’s still possible to return to many destinations, so long you remain quarantined for 2 weeks, or dependent on local rules in your country. Get in contact with your closest embassy, if need be or if you feel sick.
6. Hoarding goods is not efficient
Don’t panic-buy the whole shop. Authorities around the affected countries have assured us that the supply chain will remain effective. All that panic buying does now is to make the next person come back the next day.
7. Help the needy from home
Be helpful to your elderly neighbours. When you go shopping, ask around if anyone is less mobile than you are. Doing good is the best way to show solidarity in this crisis.
Donate to charities that tackle COVID-19. The World Health Organization is fundraising globally via https://covid19responsefund.org/. The solidarity response fund helps fight coronavirus globally.
There are many other well-respected international organizations that fundraise for the same purpose. With UNICEF, you can donate and help children affected by coronavirus.
Of course, you can always search for a local organization to inject your financial support straight to the most affected places.
Social distancing throughout Europe
Keeping everyone safe happens to be everyone’s priority, with the different measures throughout the continent. One idea sticks out as the obvious solution: Social distancing can save the lives of the most vulnerable – our old or sick relatives that brought us to life and we love so much.
Some governments act quickly and lock down cities and borders, while others employ different perspectives. At this stage, nobody can predict how this complex situation will unfold.
In any circumstance, you can always rely on iCard Messenger to stay connected to the people in your life and even send money instantly and free, if need be.
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Our hearts remain with the people in the most affected countries: China, Italy, Spain, Spain; and the rest of the world.
Stay safe and reflect on the changes in the world, to help make it better after the crisis, together.
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