3/18/2020 Launching the Pandemic Team

A neighbor reached out to me yesterday asking for help with a very urgent and concerned message “Amidst growing concerns of Coronavirus, I was very concerned to see my elderly neighbor heading out from their home for groceries/pharmacy etc. Many senior citizens around us may not be familiar with online services, and as we already know, seniors should not venture out of their home as they are vulnerable. Rishi can you please help!”

A Neighborhood Pandemic Preparedness Team can help

That got me thinking as to how we can help each other today — protect our at-risk seniors and vulnerable groups. How about organizing a Neighborhood Pandemic Preparedness Team (NPPT) to help seniors/vulnerable groups and those infected/quarantined at homes to get food, supplies, medicines at their door steps?

Here is an action plan for us to get involved, organized and help each other.

OPTION 1: If you have a Neighborhood Safety Watch program or Community Emergency Resources Team (CERT) leader

You can work with this leadership team to get the NPPT organized and help your immediate neighbors, especially the seniors.

OPTION 2: If you don’t have a neighborhood leadership team today, please consider asking a few neighbors to join you and form a NPPT team for your neighborhood. Our team is available to help you. Just submit your request at RishiKumar.com/nsw

ACTION PLAN:

• Post an email on your neighborhood email group listing the contact information of the NPPT team who are available to help, and what they are available to do, such as picking up groceries or medication.
• You should then consider printing the PDF form at RishiKumar.com/coronavirus to drop off at the doors of your neighbors who may not be online. If you need printed copies, let me know.

Please do suggest to your neighbors from high-risk groups to impose a self-quarantine. Remember that coronavirus has a long incubation period, where you may be a carrier and infect others even though you currently show no symptoms. Because seniors are so vulnerable, we should avoid in-person contact with them as much as possible. Use face-time or email to check up on them instead.