How Is Coronavirus Effecting the Pump Industry and Others?

It’s no secret that Coronavirus, COVID-19, is sweeping the globe at an increasingly concerning rate, and the industrial sectors are no exception.

A Brief Summary of Coronavirus

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, Coronaviruses are a type of virus that consists of many different strains. Some cause disease. A newly identified type has caused a recent outbreak of respiratory illness. COVID-19 originated in China. Recent information indicates this type may be passed from person to person. However, a lot is still unknown, including how contagious it might be. The COVID-19 outbreak was declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 30.

COVID-19 can cause viral pneumonia, for which antibiotics are ineffective. Those who have fallen ill are reported to show symptoms such as coughs, fever, and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, organ failure can occur. A strong immune system is the best form of attack against this virus. Many of those who have not survived this strain were reported to already be in poor health or have suffered from a weakened immune system.

What Does Coronavirus Mean for the Pumps Industry?

In a recent Pumps & Systems  article, the publication’s editor, Jennifer King, spoke with pump industry members, including consultants and oil and gas experts, who weighed in on the fallout from the worldwide spread of COVID-19. These experts included SEPCO’s CEO Chris Wilder, who also serves as an Editorial Advisory Board member for the magazine.

According to King and experts quoted in her piece, “‘companies are formulating travel protocol on a daily basis,'” especially international travel or trips to hot spots affected by the virus. This is expected to impact industry trade shows. For example, the Asia Turbomachinery & Pump Symposium, originally scheduled for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 6-9, has been postponed.

According to Wilder, particular high-profile market sectors can expect to be temporarily affected by the Coronavirus outbreak because of the travel restrictions and advisories for people to not gather at large, public events.

“Our hope at SEPCO is that the impact doesn’t lead to unfounded economic impact to other markets due to purely reactionary measures,” Wilder said. “But the threat and the severity of impact to the health and wellbeing of those on the front lines of care or with compromised immunity is real and needs to be addressed in collaboration by the globes best experts.”

Read King’s full article on the Pumps & Systems website to learn more about what COVID-19 might mean for industries that depend on fluid-sealing solutions.