Feature Crisis Management Read more online at www.securitymattersmagazine.com
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The police service has aligned these
attacks to an online conspiracy theory
propagated on several blogs that links
the spread of the COVID-19 virus to 5G
signals. As well as criminals targeting
infrastructure, no fewer than 40
telecoms engineers have been attacked
or otherwise threatened, with one being
hospitalised as the direct result of a
tragic stabbing incident.
Demonstrations in London over the
use of facemasks and the Track and
Trace systems have been increasingly
aimed towards Government and an
alleged conspiracy around somehow
‘controlling’ the population. Backed by
independent scientists, people are
gradually growing wary and concerned
that ‘all is not what it seems’ when it
comes to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through the weeks and months since
March, the number of violent
demonstrations has continued to
escalate around the world and been duly
reflected in outbreaks of social unrest in
both Chile and Hong Kong. While the
level of social unrest has now begun to
lessen to a certain degree, at least partly
as a result of targeted Government
responses to the COVID-19 pandemic,
the possibility of future unrest and
violence nevertheless remains high.
Crime is continuing to rise. Across
the UK, we’ve seen spikes in criminality
as regular drug users lose their jobs
while others struggle with now limited
employment opportunities. Unable to
pay for their ‘fix’, many dependent drug
users may be compelled to resort to
theft from people and property alike in
order to fuel their habit.
Depression and anxiety are likely to
enhance the situation as more and more
jobs are lost, with many turning to ‘The
Dark Side’ to survive or otherwise hide
from reality. As more damage is done
and economies collapse, the risk of
increased tensions becomes very real.
Impact on businesses
The impact on businesses as well as the
domestic environment can be
particularly significant during times of
social unrest, as indeed we’ve seen
across parts of America in these last few
months. While most of the protests have
been peaceful, some have escalated into
rioting, vandalism and looting.
Exceptional and extraordinary scenes
across much of the USA, akin to those
more typically witnessed in a Wild West
movie, show people ‘patrolling’ their
streets with a frightening array of
weapons in a bid to protect their own
neighbourhoods (or so they believe).
The global economy is wholly
dependent on business owners to adapt
and overcome this significant challenge.
Whatever’s on the horizon, we need to
pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and
make sure that we return to business
and a degree of normalcy. As part of that
process, creating a safe working
environment can help encourage people
back to work and provide employees
with the confidence that companies are
adopting appropriate measures.
At present, there’s a lack of readily
available state testing. Implementing
some form of rapid screening for
COVID-19 will save time and money
when compared to laboratory screening
procedures. That would help control the
spread of the virus by identifying
infection both rapidly and accurately.
For its part, Protectfully’s Antigen
rapid testing process identifies COVID-
19 antigens present in a swab sample
and subsequently yields a qualitative
‘Yes’/‘No’ result within the space of just
15 minutes. Administered privately, and
as regularly as required, the test kits are
helping many companies with their
business continuity procedures, while at
the same time providing Duty of Care
for employees and customers alike.
Fever detection systems are a great
way in which to monitor footfall, with
many fixed permanent, mobile and
hand-held solutions available, ranging
from high range for large footfalls to
The global economy is wholly dependent on
business owners to adapt and overcome this
significant challenge. Whatever’s on the horizon,
we need to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off
and make sure that we return to business and a
degree of normalcy
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