First, let me express my compassion and concern for those who have been affected physically by the coronavirus. My hope is for a worldwide quick recovery from this outbreak. Unfortunately, coronavirus also has non-physical affects that can have an impact on all of us.

Many factories in China have been closed for weeks, delaying production of frames, lenses and eyewear accessories. Transportation of raw materials for manufacturing has also been delayed. According to The Vision Council, “Members of The Vision Council should expect delays in shipping and production, and should contact their manufacturers, suppliers and freight forwarders to determine the potential impact on their individual businesses.” In fact, some opticians are already reporting frame backorders. Lenses may be affected similarly, but there are more sources for lenses outside of China than there are for frames, according to Mike Hundert, former CEO of REM Eyewear. While some contact lenses are made in China, the major brands in the US are made in Europe and North America, lessening supply problems.

That’s not all. MIDO, originally scheduled for February 29 through March 2 in Milan, postponed the event to July 5 through 7. MIDO organizers did some quick thinking, though. According to their website, “In the last few days the access to the digital platform MIDO4U has been activated for all the exhibitors: connecting to the website www.mido4u.com, the companies can upload their collections, giving the registered buyers for MIDO 2020 the chance to see the products and make direct contact with the exhibitors. Starting from Tuesday March 3 and until Friday July 3 the platform will be open to the visitors as well.”

Last Thursday, The Vision Council announced, “Vision Expo East, due to be held March 26-29, will now be consolidated with Vision Expo West in Las Vegas, September 23-26.” In planning similar to MIDO, The Vision Council noted, “During March, Vision Expo will work to develop virtual meetings between contracted exhibitors and pre-registered attendees … (and) to create customized services for participants in order to maximize successful outcomes at Vision Expo West.”

Then, timing is everything. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Zenni Optical aired its first Super Bowl ad, starring 49ers tight end George Kittle, just as the Chinese factory closures began. According to the paper, some people who watched the ad and went online to order glasses got this message: “Due to mandatory business closures in China, standard delivery will extend to 21-28 days. Express and priority shipping will not be available. We apologize for any inconvenience.”

While we wait out a resolution to this far reaching problem, there are precautions to take. Here are some guidelines from the CDC:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
o CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory               diseases, including COVID-19.
o Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease    to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
o If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always               wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

More information is available on the CDC website www.cdc.gov.

Learn more about best practices for in-office infection control with our CE, The Hygienic Optician, at 2020mag.com/ce.