Containing New Coronavirus Infections

Around the world, a war is being waged to contain COVID-19, a novel coronavirus infection. As of the end of March 2020, the number of infected has surpassed 750,000 worldwide, with over 36,000 deaths. I offer my heartfelt prayers for those who have lost their lives to this disease. In China, the source of the outbreak, the rise in the number of infected and dead has seen a slowdown, but with gaps in the data, it appears that authorities are still unable to declare that infections have peaked.

Looking back through human history, there are other examples of prolonged battles with similar infectious diseases. In many cases, we have succeeded in ascertaining the nature of the bacteria or virus causing infection and developed vaccines or drugs to combat it, ultimately suppressing and beating the diseases.

However, it is also true that we have frequently allowed large-scale outbreaks of infections caused by unknown pathogens, such as we are seeing here. Recent examples suggest it is not mutations in a virus itself, but higher worldwide population densities and an era of fast-moving people and goods on a global scale that make the situation more complex and serious.

In Japan, the countermeasures being put into effect are reaching a crucial moment. As a company, we have to try to curb infections by refraining from holding large-scale events and alleviating commuter congestion. To reduce cases of person-to-person contact in particular, in addition to staggered start times it is important to promote working from home and other forms of telework. The teleworking systems strongly recommended by the government can be introduced relatively inexpensively. For this reason, there is an expectation that not only large companies but small and medium-sized companies will also utilize this telework.

Containing infections amid the rapid movements of people is beset with difficulties. On the other hand, the measures being employed have also evolved. In addition to the use of advanced medical technologies and conventional approaches such as hand-washing and mask-wearing based on a strong culture of public hygiene, efforts to reduce person-to-person contact using cutting-edge digital technologies such as telework solutions are an entirely new endeavor. I really hope that these initiatives will succeed in suppressing the virus.

If there is any consolation, it is that the Ricoh Group has been focusing on expanding telework adoption as a part of workstyle reforms and office innovation since before this situation emerged, and telework has become an important pillar of the Office Services Business. Now, under these unexpected circumstances, the usability of telework is truly being tested. I hope that we can work to contain infections in local communities by utilizing telework in our own company, and contribute to safety and security around the world through its further adoption and promotion.