Chicago, IL: PreScouter, a Chicago-based research intelligence firm has released a new Intelligence Brief centered around when the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to end and what businesses need to do to resume operations and avoid further lockdowns. As economies around the globe start to reopen and companies are faced with new challenges that in turn will give rise to many questions, PreScouter hopes that this report will provide some answers and insight into what needs to be done now and adopted in the months to come. 

“Though some treatments like antiviral drugs and antibody therapies are getting media attention, these are only stop-gap measures. These therapies may extend the periods during which countries and states remain open, but they cannot themselves bring the pandemic to an end,” says Dr. Paromita Raha, co-author and PreScouter researcher. The hope is that treatments will reduce both illness/death and transmission, but none will likely be available without a diagnosis, which often comes only after it has already been spread, adds Dr. Justin Starr, co-author and PreScouter Senior Technical Consultant.

The Intelligence Brief was a collaborative effort between infectious disease experts, in addition to PreScouter’s researchers and in-house technical consultants. Covered in the report is an overview of treatment measures and herd immunity probability, what businesses need to do to prevent the spread and special considerations different types of work need to take. For those betting on herd immunity, Dr. Jessie Abbate, co-author and researcher at the French Institute for Development, explains that natural herd immunity in the United States would require at least 200 million people to become infected with COVID-19. Society would not tolerate this if it were to happen all at once. “Businesses should not wait for local authorities to mandate measures to avoid that from happening and limit the spread,” advises Dr. Abbate.

“If business leaders take COVID-19 seriously, we can establish new standards for hygiene and distancing – keeping the economy open longer than if we rush to go back to normal,” comments researcher Dr. Stephen Lauer, from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. The overarching question for many remains – what is the new normal? PreScouter CEO, Dino Gane-Palmer, sees that new and effective normals cannot be established alone and garnering insights from experts will be key in safeguarding operations from potential outbreaks.

About PreScouter, Inc.: PreScouter provides research support services to help business leaders make better R&D, product development and corporate development decisions. PreScouter’s custom-selected teams of Advanced Degree Researchers and Subject Matter Experts connect business leaders with new markets, commercializable technologies, industry-impacting startups, and other actionable data. PreScouter’s growing list of 500+ clients includes GE Healthcare, Coca Cola, BAE Systems, Whirlpool, and Volvo.