In a global crisis, it is often hard to find positive news amongst the noise. Negative news often shouts louder, travels faster, and permeates every aspect of social media as a talking point.
However, if you’re tired of all the negativity circulating at the moment and want something positive to brighten your day, here are some of the good things that have been happening this week:
China has closed down its last COVID-19 hospital
Without enough new cases to support it, the last temporary hospital in Wuhan, China, was closed down on 10 March. The closure is a sign that China’s efforts to curb the spread of the virus are working.
The staff at this final temporary hospital celebrated by removing their masks one by one in a video now spreading across social media.
Doctors in India have been successful in treating COVID-19
Three days ago, it was revealed that Indian doctors in Jaipur successfully treated two Italian tourists for COVID-19 using a combination of drugs more commonly known for treating HIV, swine flu and malaria.
They’re looking to suggest this treatment globally. Click here to find out more.
Spanish personal trainer leads workout from his roof
Spanish people have proven they will not let a coronavirus quarantine keep them from exercising after a personal trainer led a building-wide workout class for people on their balconies.
The video, which is now being spread on social media, shows a number of residents doing jumping jacks on their balconies.
Erasmus Medical Centre has found an antibody for the coronavirus
Scientists at the Erasmus Medical Centre have discovered an antibody that could both detect and prevent the current coronavirus, COVID-19. While it will take time for the antibody to be tested on humans, Frank Grosveld, the Professor of Cell Biology at the centre, is confident that this could be the next step to blocking the spread of coronaviruses.
Oldest coronavirus patient has made a full recovery
Zhang Guangfen, an 103-year-old woman, has successfully recovered from COVID-19 and has returned to her home in Wuhan. Her doctor, Dr Zeng Yulan, states that this is in part due to her having no underlying health conditions apart from mild chronic bronchitis.
Tech giant, Apple, opens all 42 of its China-based stores
A week ago, Apple made the decision to reopen all of its Chinese stores. The company has also seen many of its employees return to factories – the number of which “exceeded our expectations and imagination” says Foxconn, the company that assembles all of Apple’s phones.
Read the full article.
COVID-19 diagnosis could be received in hours, not days
The MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, has become the first hospital in the state that can test COVID-19 samples at its laboratory and receive results in 2 hours, instead of the standard 2+ days at other laboratories.
Communities are coming together in support during the outbreak
If you look a little deeper into the news stories surrounding COVID-19, you’ll find a lot of positive local stories hidden between the global headlines.
All across the globe, communities are coming together to support their members, whether that’s delivering food to the elderly, supporting at-risk people with earlier supermarket opening times, or simply singing with your neighbours.
Take a look here.
Number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea is declining
South Korea reported only 74 new cases of the coronavirus, a rapid decline from its peak of 909 on 29 February. This was achieved without locking down cities or any other authoritarian controls – a promising sign for all of us in Europe!
They attribute success to their expansive and well-organised testing programme and their identification of the infection’s source at the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.
Plasma from newly recovered COVID-19 patients could be used to treat others
Scientists are using donated blood from people who had COVID-19 and recovered to explore how long antibodies last in recovered patients. This will indicate how long those antibodies will protect against reinfection from coronavirus in the future.
Scientists have also been injecting blood from recovered patients into the most at-risk people to give them more of a chance to fight off the disease, using the antibodies produced by the recovered individual.
Over 89,000 people have recovered from COVID-19
Of the 100,415 closed cases relating to COVID-19, 89,920 people (90 per cent) who were infected with the virus have recovered and been discharged.
Of the 155,775 current cases globally, only 5 per cent of them are considered serious or critical (7,467 cases). The other 148,308 cases are considered mild.
Look at the full set of stats here.
So, it’s not all doom and gloom out there. As the sheer number of recovered people suggests, we’re not doing as badly as the negativity would make it seem. It’s also fantastic to see so many people coming together and supporting each other through what is quite an uncertain and scary time.
Have you had any good stories of people coming together to help each other around COVID-19? Tell your story on social media and tag us or use our hashtag #stayconnected, so that we can share them.
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