How can Economic Developers Help with Safety Measures

As some states have begun to reopen economies and public institutions, the focus is turning toward putting safety  measures in place to minimize spreading the Coronavirus. There are many ways that economic developers can aid in this time of transition. Due to their networks, and their longstanding relationships with public and private entities, economic developers can help facilitate resource and information sharing. 

Economic Developers Play A Key Role

For example, economic developers can help to identify and work with manufacturers to produce PPE, such as the efforts being carried out in Grand Rapids. The Right Place, an economic development group in Grand Rapids, has developed an online directory containing contact information for manufacturers that are producing the PPE necessary for businesses to reopen. Currently over 60 local companies are listed as sources for equipment such as face masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, and goggles. (See a recent RestoreYourEconomy article on this project.) 

Economic developers can also help work with public institutions, for example, to set up isolation areas for patients in dorms and hotels. Likewise, public health officials can work with economic developers to disseminate information, promoting reopening resources with local businesses, such as these found on RestoreYourEconomy.org. 

Innovations in "Test, Trace, Isolate" 

The framework of “Test, Trace, and Isolate” is the standard for limiting the spread of the virus, and should be adhered to as the economy reopens. While testing is currently limited, there are ways to streamline or expand testing efforts. 

One potential solution to expand testing is to test multiple people with one test. Currently in Nebraska group testing efforts are being used, in which multiple samples are collected and tested all together. If the test comes back negative, then all the individuals can be cleared with one single test. If the test comes back positive, then all individuals are tested again separately.  Drive through testing is also increasing. The collection process for drive through tests takes only 10 minutes, however there may be long lines especially in major cities. As of May 8 there were 1,321 testing sites offered across the country, although experts suggest expanded testing will be needed. 

Contact tracing is also critical to fight COVID-19. Contact tracing is essentially tracking those who an infected individual has been in contact with, in order to encourage those individuals to get tested and quarantine to prevent further spread. Both Apple and Google are currently working on a contact tracing app. The idea behind the apps is to monitor phones and track when two people are in close enough contact that the virus could be spread. Then, if someone is diagnosed with the virus , an alert is sent to all the phones of people who might have also become infected. However, health officials are not enthusiastic about these technological solutions, and urge the public not to over-rely on them. 

Isolation can be difficult to enforce, especially for individuals without access to solitary space. Some cities are using hotels, dorm rooms or convention centers to isolate individuals. New York City has begun to offer hotel rooms to homeless people in an attempt to prevent infection. The selected individuals include those who have tested positive, are showing symptoms, or come from shelters where social distancing efforts have been difficult. This program may be expanded with additional support.   

What Else Can be Done? 

In addition to the “Test, Trace, and Isolate” strategy, many other measures to prevent spread are being put into place, such as staggering entry times, enhancing cleaning schedules, and attempting to discourage individuals from touching their face. Many cities are announcing accelerated cleaning schedules for public transit; for example, cleaning buses, trains and subways every night, an increase from every three days. Personal hygiene is also important; a study of medical students revealed most individuals touch their faces 23 times every hour. Efforts such as wearing gloves in public could prevent people from touching their faces and mouths as often, thus decreasing spread. 

As leaders in their communities, economic developers play an important role in providing information to the public and can be crucial to help businesses recover. While we are in uncharted territory, by following the “Test, Trace and Isolate” strategy and aiding in the sharing of resources and information, economic developers can be key to help the economy reopen safely.