We know COVID-19 news can be overwhelming—and I’m saying this both as a citizen and member of the media who always checks Twitter for updates. The daily influx of articles and posts about the disease can greatly affect our mental health, especially if all we see are worrisome news and government officials making questionable decisions.
In times like these, it’s important to be vigilant, as well as highlight some of the good news coming out during this global pandemic. We’re not saying that we should minimize what’s happening in the world through toxic positivity. But we all need a break from time to time.
If you’re looking for good news during this trying time, here’s a list:
Helping health workers
Doctors, nurses and even interns are working tirelessly to care for COVID-19 patients and persons under investigation (PUI) and monitoring (PUM). We’ve seen several people like Vice Pres. Leni Robredo and Bela Padilla start fundraisers to give health workers the assistance they need, as well as well-known companies donating money and personal protective equipment (PPEs).
Some restaurants have also offered meals to give them energy while working around the clock.
Meanwhile, some have offered their homes to frontliners who need somewhere to stay and avoid hours-long commutes during the community quarantine.
Recovering patients
News of COVID-19 deaths can scare anyone. So we appreciate the Department of Health (DOH) reporting on the number of recovering patients in the country. As of writing, seven have recovered. Here’s hoping that the number keeps going up in the coming weeks or months.
Sanitation tents
Students and alumni from the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD) designed affordable and easy-to-build sanitation tents that can be used in hospitals, offices and other public settings. “It will use readily available materials from local hardware stores. Once the design is final, we will send it to all the contacts that we have. All LGUs and institutions can use it, free of charge,” read the UP Office of the Student Regent’s Facebook post.
COVID-19 vaccine in the works
In case you didn’t know, scientists are working on a COVID-19 vaccine and the first clinical trial was conducted on Mar. 16 at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle. There are several other pharmaceutical companies working on a vaccine, so rest assured that scientists and doctors all over the world are doing their best to find a cure to this pandemic.
Decreasing pollution and clearer waters
According to studies, there has been a decrease in air pollution in some countries that enforced lockdowns. In Venice, Italy, locals noticed that the canals’ water has been clearer since the whole country went on lockdown.
Penguins!!!
Two aquariums in the US let their penguins roam around the empty premises, giving us adorable videos to lift up our moods.
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These are just some of the good news we’ve seen so far. Rest assured that we’ll update this article when we find more.
Stay safe and healthy, everyone!
Art by Tricia Guevara
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