Finding hope in a hopeless place

Undeniably, Covid-19 is a pandemic of remarkable ferocity. These are some dark times for humanity, as Covid-19 continues to spread around the globe. The number of infections and fatalities are rising day by day, countries are shutting their borders and people are being forced into isolation. Covid-19 does not discriminate.

And so it is that, much like toilet paper, hope is in short supply. It is foreseeable that the Covid-19 response has been unsettled, incompetent, belated, disorganized, confusing, and chaotic.

Are we condemned? Are we bound to fail?

We can’t lie to ourselves; the answer might be ‘yes’. But if there’s hope to cling to, we can find our way to survive. Now bear with me because, among all the worrying news, there are reasons to find hope. Those reasons we have to all cling to.

Air pollution drops

As countries go into lock down, there has been a significant decrease in pollution levels. Both China and Italy have recorded major falls in nitrogen dioxide — a serious air pollutant and powerful warming chemical — in the midst of reduced industrial activity.

Canals go clear

Residents of Venice have noticed an enormous improvement in the water quality of the famous canals running through the city. The streets have emptied in the heat of the outbreak leading to a drastic drop in water traffic.

Acts of kindness

There is a plethora of stories of panic buying and fights over toilet paper, but Covid-19 has also encouraged acts of kindness around the world. Two New Yorkers accumulated 1,300 volunteers in 72 hours to deliver groceries and medicine to the elderly and vulnerable populations. Supermarkets in Australia and Cyprus are among those to create a special “elderly hour” so older shoppers and those with disabilities have a chance to shop in peace.

A united community

Between a feverish work and home life, it is often easy to feel disconnected from those around you. As Covid-19 affects us all, it has brought many communities closer together. For instance, in Italy, people have joined together on their balconies for morale-boosting songs.

Many people have used the opportunity to reconnect with friends and loved ones over the phone or video calls, while groups of friends have organized virtual clubbing using mobile apps.

Covid-19 has also emphasized the significance of health workers. Thousands of Europeans have taken to their balconies and windows to applaud the doctors and nurses fighting the epidemic, while medical students in London have volunteered to help healthcare professionals with childcare.

A creativity bloom

With millions of people now in isolation, many are using the opportunity to get creative. Social media users have shared details of their new hobbies, including reading, baking, and painting.

And while many public spaces have been shut, art fans have been getting the most out of virtual tours offered by the world’s biggest galleries, observing the famous paintings of the Louvre in Paris and the classic sculptures of the Vatican museum from the comfort of their living rooms. In addition, pop stars have also been live-streaming gigs to fight the boredom of self-isolation.

The bitter lesson is that hope in the time of a pandemic lies in front of our eyes, even though we sometimes tend to look the other way. I rather not look the other way and I would advise you do the same. After all, we need dark days to realize the beauty of hope. As Stephenie Meyer once said, “I like the night. Without the dark, we’d never see the stars”.