OVERCOMING THE PANDEMIC AND MANAGING THE RECOVERY
The figures for active cases and deaths continue to grow relentlessly. This is despite the praiseworthy endeavors of healthcare professionals for whom the various levels of Administration must make every effort to obtain the necessary resources to carry out essential tasks with the least possible risk to their health. With considerable donations of personal protection and healthcare equipment, the business sector is showing its most social aspect during this phase, a facet that often remains unacknowledged. It is also contributing with decisions to manufacture respirators, improve services to clients, reduce rents or protect and safeguard employees with a number of initiatives. We meanwhile await the much-anticipated flattening of the curve, which will inevitably arrive soon due to the strict lockdown measures established under the state of alert.
The impact of the crisis on the economy is already obvious, due to the simultaneous plunge in both the supply and demand for goods and services. Flash estimates and forecasts from analysts offer us a glimpse into an unprecedented recession for Spain and Europe over the coming months. In order to bounce back as quickly as possible, the government and civil society must implement measures to enable us to overcome this situation whilst minimizing the number of citizens affected and the damage to business activity.
Faced with calls to shut down all economic activity, in the Círculo de Empresarios we believe that in moments such as these it is essential to priorities the general interests of Spain over those of the autonomous regions. Confinement measures are being obeyed thanks to the conscientious behavior and commitment of citizens and the watchfulness of the forces of law and order. What is needed, therefore, is solidarity between regions rather than the closure of internal borders. Wherever possible, it is necessary to maintain activity in essential sectors as well as those sectors in which operations are possible without exposing workers to the risk of infection. Not every business is able to take advantage of teleworking. We must set our minds to the day after, to what will happen in the much-anticipated recovery phase. The speed and vigor of the recovery will be dependent upon the extent to which productive activity avoids impairment, on the number of businesses that continue operating and the fewest possible number of workers losing their jobs.
