On 12 and 13 September, Steffi Czerny and Maria Furtwängler will bring experts from science, business, politics and society to Munich to present new solutions for biodiversity and business in harmony with nature.
A tiny organism has brought daily life to a standstill, all over the world. Since the coronavirus was first discovered in November 2019, it has spread around the globe at a dramatic pace, threatening the lives of millions of people. As DLD sits at the intersection of science, business, culture and politics, many aspects of this crisis are related to topics, experts and institutions in the DLD community. Combining knowledge, insights and news of these different areas can inspire us to new solutions to fight this viral threat we are currently facing.
What Are You Adding?
The motto for this year’s DLD conference in Munich, which took place in January, feels more relevant than ever. Actions matter, and we cannot just point to the government to manage the coronavirus crisis. Ultimately, nothing may be more important than what we do as individuals – each of us taking responsibility for the common good. This goes beyond regularly washing your hands and staying home: The platform Nebenan.de offers tips on how people can support each other, for example by helping elderly neighbors with their shopping.
How To Deal With the Lockdown?
It can be hard to stay at home all day, especially when you don’t want to. Too many people, too little room – and tensions quickly start to flare. The coronavirus may turn out to be the ultimate stress test for couples. Couples therapist Esther Perel pointed out how important it is that partners are aware of their differences in responding to a crisis like the coronavirus pandemic.
“If you polarize and you think that there’s only one way to do things, it’s fake certainty. The whole point is that you’re discovering it along the way.”
Esther Perel, couples therapist and DLD speaker
Esther Perel is a regular DLD speaker and most recently explained the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace at DLD Munich 20.
When Will Life Be Normal Again?
There’s no telling how long the pandemic will last. The good news is that some drugs are already being tested. A Japanese flu medication has shown promising results, for example. Several studies (e.g. from China and France) point to chloroquine – historically used to treat malaria – and the closely related hydroxychloroquine as potential drugs to treat Covid-19. However, even in a best-case scenario it will likely take months – perhaps until 2021 – before drugs are ready for mass-market use.
So for now, the best strategy appears to be keeping a physical distance to other people. Because the virus needs a host – us. And if we don’t give it a chance to travel, doctors will have a much better chance of healing patients and stopping the disease. In that spirit, stay healthy, stay home, and be creative in supporting your community!
Other interesting topics such as “How Can Technology Help?”, “How Bad Will It Get?”, “What About the Economy?” and many more can be found on the DLD news blog.
