No one can predict the full impact the disease will have on economic conditions but few, if any, businesses will be unaffected.

The Hunter Business Chamber has been closely monitoring advice from the federal and state health departments for guidance on how to respond to the coronavirus threat but we are also looking within our organisation and the business community for ideas on how businesses are preparing to ride out the impending slump.

I'm sure most offices have by now implemented the recommended health and safety procedures relating to processes such as restricting unnecessary travel and meetings, hand-washing, sanitising and refraining from handshaking or other forms of physical contact.

Perhaps you have already implemented a work-from-home policy or are staggering start and finish times to reduce the number of people in your office at any one time.

If you haven't yet implemented these sorts of procedures, you should refer to the advice for employers on the federal Health website. There is also some useful advice on managing coronavirus issues on the Small Business Commissioner's website

Business Australia and Australian Business Lawyers and Advisers have posted guidance on their websites for business owners and operators, including advice about their obligations as an employer and how to best manage situations relating to enforced leave, working from home and other legal or human resources issues. These are being constantly updated as the situation changes.

We encourage all employers to support their employees where they can and to keep their businesses running where it is safe and practical to do so, whether that involves employees working from home or in the office following recommended safety and hygiene practices.

If a workplace needs to close and staff can't effectively work from home, we encourage employers to consider alternative uses of their time, such as looking into whether they can access an online learning course and use that opportunity for professional development.

This is also the time to be a bit entrepreneurial in your business thinking. In many cases, there will still be a market for your products and services, but customers and clients may be accessing them from home rather than from your office or shop.

Businesses should think a about how they can continue to service customers who might be in isolation or practising social distancing. A subtle shift in business model might help keep your business operating.

Here are some ideas.

Finally, we all have an obligation as customers to do what we can to keep local business ticking over. If you are are shopping online, consider buying from local businesses before you use the big online platforms. Similarly, if your household or business will benefit from the economic stimulus package announced last week, please think about spending or investing that money within the region where you can.

Things may seem a bit scary at the moment but we know that in places that took an early hit from coronavirus, life goes on and there are some early signs of economic recovery.

We are all in this together and it will take a collective effort to get to the other side.