Coronavirus choked global supply chain networks and increased heavy reliance on shopping local after sea, rail and airways were jolted to an abrupt halt. Whilst the corporate titans scrambled for devising ways to import essential goods including food and medical supplies, some local Asian entrepreneurs decided to step up to the challenge and extended help to the strained NHS and other care homes.
Jigna Varu is the Chief Commercial Officer at Micro-Fresh, a Leicester based anti-bacterial firm which traditionally manufactured a liquid for shoes and bedding to prevent odour and pathogenic bacteria. Noticing the shortage for hand-sanitisers, the company formulated a hand sanitiser with 66% alcohol.
During the first lockdown, Jigna says many approached them to enquire about anti-bacterial liquids to spray whole rooms, areas, and surfaces. Commenting on how the company helped out the care homes during the first lockdown, Jigna said, “During the first wave of the lockdown, being an antibacterial brand, we began manufacturing sanitisers. Not only for hands, but for all surfaces. Our first few batches were not to sell to resellers, but in fact to help the vulnerable. We donated several hundreds of litres to hospitals and care homes across the country.
“We then began manufacturing reusable cotton masks with filters and we got many enquiries, especially from the elderly. Through Leicester city council we have further donated a number of masks by partnering with local Leicester businesses. We thought spraying walls/larger areas was not the best method. On the back of this we came up with a fogging machine and manufactured a fluid to go with it. Setting off the machine, releases a powerful fog which goes over all areas and kills bacteria, viruses, fungi and other allergens which may be in the air. The addition of Micro-Fresh then leaves an antimicrobial coating on all surfaces it lands on. This means the surface is protected for up to 4 weeks, including high touch point areas.
“We are continuously promoting our PPE services and in the last three weeks have seen an increase due to many local lockdowns but also preparation for a second wave. It has highlighted, the crucial role we have in helping keep businesses open to aid with the economy of the country.”
Besides Jigna other businesses who scrambled to help carers includes India’s OYO Rooms which launched a new ‘virtual hotel’ named OYO Rooms for Carers where people were able to book an overnight stay at the cost of £25 per room, per night. The room nights at the virtual hotel will then be passed over to NHS trusts for frontline healthcare workers to redeem at their nearest OYO hotel. At the height of the pandemic and when Transport for London (TfL) had cut short its tube services by half, Ola Cabs had also offered all NHS workers in the UK 50% off their rides to and from work. Small restaurants and grocery stores had also introduced delivery options for meals, raw fruits and vegetable supplies especially when frenzy around coronavirus had resulted in consumers stock-piling essential commodities. Similar plans and packages are likely to be enrolled ahead of winter as homelessness is also likely to worsen the pandemic.
