Call
+918447748545

Published on: Apr 04, 2020
3 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Anyone With Flu Like Symptoms Are Now Encouraged

The Bold Strategy the UK has adopted against COVID-19

The UK government had outlined its Coronavirus strategy in three distinct steps. The first stage was to contain the virus. This was implemented when spread of the virus was primarily by infected patients from abroad. Public health advice was provided, campaigns on washing hands, not touching the face, practicing safe hygiene. Potentially infected individuals were informed to self-quarantine for 14 days whilst waiting for symptoms to develop and testing to occur. Now it is evident this is not enough. The virus has spread to enough people that transmission can now occur locally, between people who have never been abroad. Containment is not the aim, mitigation of number of cases to prevent burdening the health services. The second stage aims to reduce the epidemic’s peak, flatten it out so the number of cases do not occur at once.

Anyone with flu like symptoms are now encouraged to stay home for 7 days, and testing will only occur for hospital admissions. Beyond this little appears to have changed. Schools will remain open, social gatherings have not been cut yet (but is expected over the next week) and general life will continue as normal. This is a risky measure, one that suggests the government is not taking the issue seriously. France, Spain and Italy have enacted lockdown measures, Germany has begun cutting social gatherings. So why is the UK not following in step? Are people going to die as a result of this inaction?

DELAY THE SPREAD

The answer is of course complex. PM Boris Johnson has acknowledged that as a result of his decision people may die, especially the elderly who are seen as a very vulnerable population. But this plan has been discussed with multiple scientists, doctors, public health specialists, and there is method in the madness. Currently the UK is in the early stages of the epidemic. The number of infected are expected to rise sharply in 4 weeks, with a peak in 10–14 weeks. Implementing harsh restrictions too early can lead to “self isolation fatigue”, resulting in people not following the restrictions stringently or leaving their homes at the height of the epidemic. Restrictions also come with their own problems, and implementing them may lead to more harm than good. Simple measures such as hand washing and self isolation can itself reduce the peak of cases by 20%.

Schools have not yet been closed because COVID-19 does not appear to affect children as much. Closure of schools would also mean parents having to stay at home to look after their children (after all, nurseries, creches and other forms of childcare would still result in a spread of infection). In some cases these parents are also healthcare professionals, and the UK needs every single doctor, nurse and allied health professional to be on the frontline treating patients.

So what is the strategy? The NHS is currently full of patients due to the winter burden, one that is expected to taper off in the coming months. Slowing the onset of the epidemic’s peak to Summer, spreading it across the next few months so the maximum number of people can be treated in the hospital setting without overburdening. The aim is no longer to prevent the spread of infection but to protect the most vulnerable age groups. This model allows the young and healthy to become infected, almost encourages it.

INFECT YOUR CITIZENS

Now this sentence may sound ridiculous when said out loud. Allow infection. But why? The UK has acknowledged there is no way to stop the infection. Whilst the mortality in the elderly population and those with medical conditions are high, in the young and healthy it manifests as a mild illness with almost all infected cases recovering. More importantly, recovered patients have immunity against the virus, manifesting as antibodies in their blood. Immune patients cannot infect other people, so the more immune patients there are the slower the virus will spread. This is known as herd immunity, and the process is discussed in length in our blog on vaccines. Herd immunity needs to be achieved before the onset of winter in 2020, as winter admissions alongside COVID admissions would result in a disaster.

https://medium.com/@rajneesh.dwivedi/developing-a-vaccine-for-covid-19-part-1-f7263ae9bf88 Rajneesh secondmedic

The strategy is of course risky, and one that has not been implemented before. And since the infection will not be contained people will die. But by spreading the burden of the infection across a longer time period will allow those who require treatment to receive it in a far less burdened health system. And it has received support from health professionals, even those who are fierce critics of the PM and Conservative government. But it has resulted in confusion amongst the population, a population that looks at authoritative action taking place in other countries and not understanding why their own doesn’t follow suit. The issue is these draconian measures are not sustainable, and if implemented correctly the UK strategy may result in far less lasting damage on its health service and the economy.

Dr Rajan Choudhary, London UK

Head Of Products, Second Medic Inc (www.secondmedic.com)

Read Blog

Flexible Work Schedules with Telehealth Support: A Smarter Approach to Employee Wellbeing

The modern workplace is undergoing a significant transformation. Rigid office hours and traditional healthcare access models are giving way to flexible work schedules and digital health solutions. One of the most impactful combinations emerging in corporate wellness is flexible work schedules with telehealth support.

This integrated approach addresses two critical challenges faced by today’s workforce: work-life imbalance and delayed healthcare access.

Why Workplace Health Models Need to Change

According to NITI Aayog and EY-FICCI workforce reports, Indian employees face rising levels of:

work-related stress
lifestyle diseases
burnout
absenteeism

Long working hours, commuting stress and limited time for medical visits worsen health outcomes. Flexible work arrangements and telehealth support directly address these gaps.

What Are Flexible Work Schedules?

Flexible work schedules allow employees to:

adjust start and end times
work remotely or in hybrid formats
manage personal commitments alongside work

Flexibility empowers employees to align work with their physical and mental health needs.

Understanding Telehealth Support

Telehealth uses digital platforms to deliver healthcare services such as:

online doctor consultations
follow-up care
preventive health advice
mental health support

It eliminates geographical and time barriers to healthcare.

Why Combining Flexibility with Telehealth Works

Individually, flexibility and telehealth are beneficial. Together, they create a powerful wellness ecosystem.

This combination allows employees to:

consult doctors without taking leave
manage chronic conditions proactively
address early symptoms promptly
reduce healthcare delays

Health Benefits for Employees

Reduced Stress and Burnout

Flexible schedules reduce time pressure, while telehealth removes healthcare-related anxiety.

Improved Access to Preventive Care

Employees are more likely to seek early consultations when care is convenient.

Better Management of Chronic Conditions

Conditions like hypertension, diabetes and thyroid disorders require regular follow-up, which telehealth supports efficiently.

Enhanced Mental Wellbeing

Tele-mental health services enable confidential and timely support.

Improved Work-Life Balance

Employees can prioritise health without compromising job responsibilities.

Productivity Benefits for Employers

Reduced Absenteeism

Quick access to care reduces prolonged sick leave.

Improved Employee Engagement

Health-supported employees show higher motivation and loyalty.

Lower Healthcare Costs

Preventive care reduces long-term medical claims.

Strong Employer Branding

Wellness-focused policies attract and retain talent.

Evidence Supporting Flexible Work and Telehealth

According to WHO and Lancet workplace health studies:

flexible work reduces stress-related disorders
telehealth improves healthcare utilisation
preventive care lowers chronic disease burden

Indian corporate data mirrors these findings, especially in hybrid work environments.

Role in Preventive Healthcare

Preventive healthcare focuses on early risk identification and lifestyle management.

Flexible schedules with telehealth support:

encourage routine checkups
support ongoing health monitoring
enable early intervention

This aligns with India’s preventive healthcare priorities outlined by NITI Aayog.

Addressing Common Concerns

Productivity Loss Myth

Multiple studies show flexible work improves output rather than reducing it.

Quality of Telehealth

Telehealth is effective for most primary care and follow-up needs.

Data Security

Modern telehealth platforms follow strict privacy and data protection standards.

Ideal Use Cases in the Workplace

This model is particularly effective for:

IT and corporate offices
remote and hybrid teams
organisations with distributed workforce
high-stress work environments

Implementation Best Practices

To maximise impact:

set clear flexibility guidelines
integrate telehealth access into HR benefits
promote preventive consultations
track wellness metrics

Leadership support is key to adoption.

Long-Term Organisational Impact

Organisations adopting this model report:

improved employee health indicators
reduced burnout
stronger workplace culture
sustainable productivity gains

Wellbeing becomes a strategic advantage.

Conclusion

Flexible work schedules with telehealth support represent the future of employee wellbeing. By removing barriers to healthcare access and allowing employees control over their work routines, this approach promotes preventive care, reduces stress and enhances productivity. As workplaces evolve, integrating flexibility with digital health support is not just an employee benefit—it is a strategic investment in long-term organisational health and resilience.

References

World Health Organization (WHO) – Workplace Health Promotion Framework
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – Lifestyle Disease and Workforce Health Studies
NITI Aayog – Digital Health and Workplace Wellness Reports
Lancet – Telehealth and Workforce Productivity Research
EY-FICCI – Corporate Wellness and Future of Work Reports
Statista – Telehealth Adoption and Workforce Trends

Request A Callback

+91

By using this website/app, I confirm that I am at least 18 years old and consent to the processing of my personal data in accordance with the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Declaration.