22 positive news stories you may have missed during the outbreak
In dark and distressing times, humankind can really pull through to show its good side.
The outbreak of the Coronavirus, Covid-19, has been described as the 'worst public health crisis for a generation' by the UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Many countries are taking drastic measures in a bid to halt the spread of the virus, including social distancing, closing bars, restaurants and schools or, in the case of places like Italy and now the UK, putting the entire community on lockdown.
This news is serious and serves the purpose of informing the public about the latest developments in a rapidly escalating global news story. However, with all the noise, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and miss out on some of the more positive news updates that are still occurring in light of the concerning situation.
During times of fear and uncertainty, the very best elements of human nature can prevail, as is the case in these Coronavirus-related good news stories we've found from around the world, demonstrating the power of displaying care and kindness to those less fortunate or able than you in a crisis.
1. Fitness Influencers Help Out Parents
Personal trainer and fitness influencer Joe Wicks, better known as the Body Coach, on social media is helping parents up and down the country who are home schooling their children after schools were ordered to close last Friday.
From Monday to Friday at 9am, Wicks will be streaming 30-minute long live PE classes that children can do from their homes.
2. London Books 300 Rooms For Rough Sleepers
While people are advised to stay in their homes as much as possible during the pandemic, this is not possible for people who are homeless forced to sleep on the streets.
To protect them from infection, the London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced over the weekend that the city had secured 300 rooms, for now, where people who are sleeping rough can stay.
3. Spirits Kept High In Care Homes
Many care homes have paused on allowing visitors - including family - to see their elderly residents to keep them safe and protected during the Covid-19 outbreak.
4. Pubs Donating Perishables To The NHS
On Friday, the Prime Minister ordered all pubs, restaurants, cinemas, gyms and more to close in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic (eateries can still open to serve takeaway food).
With pubs given short notice to close and still in possession of lots of food that might perish, they took matters into their own hands. The Grove pub in Balham, south west London delivered their sandwiches and ice cream to London Ambulance service and NHS staff to keep morale high as they treat patients.
Similar initiatives from pubs took place in Norwich, South Shields and more.
5. Christ The Redeemer Lights Up
On Wednesday, the 18th March, the iconic Christ The Redeemer statue which looks out over Rio de Janeiro was illuminated with various flags of countries gripped by the Coronavirus pandemic.
The move coincided with the Archbishop of the city delivering a dedicated mass in honour of the Covid-19 victims from around the world.
6. Companies Supporting The NHS
As Coronavirus cases rise in the UK, the importance of our NHS and healthcare workers is priority. Luckily, lots of businesses - big and small - have realised this too so are offering discounts, treats and more to all medical staff as a token of appreciation.
7. Clearer Waters In Venice
Many parts of Italy, including Venice, have been on lockdown for weeks as Italy grapples with the severe Coronavirus outbreak in the country.
One small silver lining has been reported in Venice. Locals have noticed how clear the water appears perhaps due to the lack of motorboats and general crows and pollution. These clearer waters have even led to wildlife appearing in the canals with swans, fish and more spotted in recent days.
8. Alcohol Brands Making Hand Sanitiser
Several beer and spirit brands have started using the alcohol content in their products to make hand sanitiser instead. Brewers Brewdog announced the move on Instagram this week, as did gin distillers Leith gin and Dundee-based Verdant spirits.
9. Football Teams Offer NHS Staff Their Hotels
On Wednesday, former England footballer Gary Neville - who also runs a chain of hotels in the Manchester area - announced he would be opening his hotels free of charge for NHS workers to stay at. This means that any NHS members who would otherwise be forced to isolate if family members experienced symptoms can instead stay at hotel.
Similarly, in London, Chelsea FC have loaned their Stamford Bridge hotel to NHS workers needing accommodation with the bill being footed by chairman Bruce Buck and owner Roman Abramovich.
10. Livestreamed Concerts
On Monday, Chris Martin performed an impromptu free concert via Instagram Stories for fans who have are in self-isolation.
Following his lead, John Legend then announced on Twitter he too would be playing a gig from the confides of his home - where Chrissy Teigen is also likely to make an appearance.
11. Free Roaming For Penguins
When the Shedd aquarium in Chicago closed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, staff at the centre decided it was a good time to show two of their residents - Edward and Annie the penguins - the grounds.
The two penguins toured the grounds for the first time and were exposed to dolphins and sharks on the other side of the glass and the staff's reception areas for a wander.
12. Beauty Banks Campaign
The charity Beauty Banks, which is essentially like a food bank but for personal care and hygiene products, issued an urgent appeal for donations. The organisation said the money would then be used to buy people living in poverty - who can't afford to stockpile - soap, hand sanitizer, body wash, tissues and more.
13. Quarantined Dance-Alongs
In Italy, where citizens have been on lockdown since the start of last week, impromptu mass sing and dance-alongs have been taking place via balconies.
The Good News Movement Instagram account shared this video of a Friday night balcony dance party in Milan where locals were attempting to keep spirits up despite being housebound.
14. Mass Applause For Healthcare Workers
While many of us are working from home in self-isolation during the outbreak, medical staff are obviously not. They are working just as hard and tirelessly as ever, if not more so, to provide care to those severely affected by Covid-19.
Over the weekend, after a social media campaign, a co-ordinated mass applause for healthcare workers broke out in several areas across Spain, including Pamplona, Madrid and Murcia - where many are on lockdown - via their windows.
15. Volunteer cards
There have been various versions of people sharing notes and leaflets advertising their help with shopping and more to those who may be unable to get out of the house to fetch supplies.
This local Instagram account for Tooting in southwest London shows the kind of help people are offering, while also bearing in mind the social distancing measures.
These cards were created by a Cornish resident who told the BBC she had found the response to her campaign 'incredibly heartwarming'.
16. Sizeable Donations
Some high net-worth individuals have taken matters into their own hands by making generous donations to fight the Coronavirus outbreak.
Donatella Versace is just one of those contributors having pledged €200,000 to a Milan hospital.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have also donated $1 million to food bank charities.
In the US, NBA superstar Steph Curry and his wife Ayesha have donated $1 million to pupils in Oakland, California who rely on school meals and won't be attending school due to their closure.
17. Footballers and Foodbanks
Last week, the UK's Premier League announced that all football games would be temporarily suspended in a bid to protect players and fans amid the outbreak.
As this meant last minute cancellations for many matches scheduled to go ahead at the weekend, several football clubs including Liverpool FC, Everton, Aston Villa and Newcastle donated the food which had been ordered to the stadiums, to food banks instead, as well as making large cash donations.
18. Quarantined Bingo In Spain
Local residents who are quarantined in Seville, Spain have also been keeping their spirits up via a communal game of Bingo using a loudspeaker.
19. Free Hand Sanitizer From A Scottish Corner Shop
A local shop in Stenhousemuir, Falkirk in Scotland is giving away free 'Covid-19 kits' for those over the age of 65.
The kits contain hand gel and cleaning wipes and shop owners Asiyah and Jawad Javed had been out and about in the local area distributing the packs.
'We are just trying to help people who can’t get out the house,' Asiyah told The Independent.
20. Free Streaming Of The Opera
Many theatres have cancelled productions and shows in light of the virus, including in the home of Broadway New York City.
However, as Vulture reports, the city's Metropolitan Opera announced that rather than ceasing production entirely they will host nightly Opera streams from their archive free of charge.
If you fancy a break from TV during self-isolation, and have never managed to catch the Opera before, now might be your chance.
21. Toilet Paper Donations
One of the biggest shortages in supermarkets at the moment is toilet paper as people panic stockpile in the event they can't reach the shops at some point.
According to The Guardian, two friends clubbed together their pocket money to buy toilet roll to distribute to elderly neighbours in their Queensland community after being shocked at the lack of toilet roll in the shelves in their supermarket.
Heartwarming.
22. LVMH Uses Perfume Factories To Make Disinfectant Gel
More reassuring news has been found among companies diverting their resources specifically to help target Covid-19 relief strategies.
LVMH, the parent company of brands including Dior, Givenchy and more, announced that they will be producing disinfectant gel rather than perfume which they will distribute to hospitals and health authorities for free.
We hope some of this news made you smile, and while remaining serious about the situation, bring a little bit of hope to your day! Please share your own stories with us if you have any!