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4 Bright Spots Amid the Gloom of Coronavirus 4 Bright Spots Amid the Gloom of Coronavirus
(14 days later)
It can get overwhelming: a drumbeat of bleak news about the coronavirus pandemic, with events changing so fast that one week seems unrecognizable from the last.It can get overwhelming: a drumbeat of bleak news about the coronavirus pandemic, with events changing so fast that one week seems unrecognizable from the last.
“In the moment, it’s painful and miserable and it’s hard,” said Jeremy Ortman, a mental health counselor in New York. “We don’t know what it’s going to look like on the other side.”“In the moment, it’s painful and miserable and it’s hard,” said Jeremy Ortman, a mental health counselor in New York. “We don’t know what it’s going to look like on the other side.”
But he and other experts said that, to stay resilient in uncertain and frightening times, it was critical to remember that bright spots do exist, and to keep those gleams of hope in mind. “Whenever I’ve asked people what thing they’re most proud of in their lives, it’s always connected to times of pain or strife or struggle and how they got through it,” he said.But he and other experts said that, to stay resilient in uncertain and frightening times, it was critical to remember that bright spots do exist, and to keep those gleams of hope in mind. “Whenever I’ve asked people what thing they’re most proud of in their lives, it’s always connected to times of pain or strife or struggle and how they got through it,” he said.
So, you are probably asking by now, what positives are there to remember?So, you are probably asking by now, what positives are there to remember?
It’s not often that kindness and fellowship grab headlines. Maybe people are being better to each other, or maybe we’re just noticing it more.It’s not often that kindness and fellowship grab headlines. Maybe people are being better to each other, or maybe we’re just noticing it more.
People are serenading each other across windowsills. Animal shelters are reporting upticks in foster applications. Volunteers are buying groceries for their neighbors, cities are starting programs to feed the homeless, and stores are offering exclusive hours for older shoppers.People are serenading each other across windowsills. Animal shelters are reporting upticks in foster applications. Volunteers are buying groceries for their neighbors, cities are starting programs to feed the homeless, and stores are offering exclusive hours for older shoppers.
Responding to dire equipment shortages at hospitals, sewing circles organized on social media are stitching scraps of shower curtains and flowered fabric into masks, and craft distilleries are using spirits to make hand sanitizer, for free.Responding to dire equipment shortages at hospitals, sewing circles organized on social media are stitching scraps of shower curtains and flowered fabric into masks, and craft distilleries are using spirits to make hand sanitizer, for free.
Some landlords are waiving or lowering rent, and some employers are recognizing an obligation to look out for employees. Broadway producers agreed to pay actors and stage crew workers through the next several weeks, and unions and companies negotiated to increase the salaries of some grocery store employees, who have become an indispensable work force in the crisis.Some landlords are waiving or lowering rent, and some employers are recognizing an obligation to look out for employees. Broadway producers agreed to pay actors and stage crew workers through the next several weeks, and unions and companies negotiated to increase the salaries of some grocery store employees, who have become an indispensable work force in the crisis.
In Kansas, after schools were closed for the rest of the academic year, six tents were set up around Kansas City where students could pick up breakfast and lunch, school officials said.In Kansas, after schools were closed for the rest of the academic year, six tents were set up around Kansas City where students could pick up breakfast and lunch, school officials said.
More than 70 percent of the district’s 23,000 students rely on school meals.More than 70 percent of the district’s 23,000 students rely on school meals.
“We’re really just trying to let everyone know that we want to do right by the students,” said Charles Foust, the superintendent of schools in Kansas City.“We’re really just trying to let everyone know that we want to do right by the students,” said Charles Foust, the superintendent of schools in Kansas City.
In Jonesboro, Ark., Ramey Myers, a co-owner of the Parsonage, a restaurant, feared she would have to lay off employees after she and her husband shut it down except for takeout. The couple panicked this month when they took in only $50 for an entire day.In Jonesboro, Ark., Ramey Myers, a co-owner of the Parsonage, a restaurant, feared she would have to lay off employees after she and her husband shut it down except for takeout. The couple panicked this month when they took in only $50 for an entire day.
But she then got a text from her landlord: “no rent April.”But she then got a text from her landlord: “no rent April.”
With the reprieve, Ms. Myers and her husband could pay their employees for two more weeks. “Other people need to do” what her landlord did, she said, calling it, “a blessing beyond anything anyone could have done. It’s huge.”With the reprieve, Ms. Myers and her husband could pay their employees for two more weeks. “Other people need to do” what her landlord did, she said, calling it, “a blessing beyond anything anyone could have done. It’s huge.”
Everyone has a chance to be heroic, Dr. Emily Landon, the chief infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Chicago Medicine, said at a news conference last week. “It’s really hard to feel like you’re saving the world when you’re watching Netflix from your couch,” she said. “But if we do this right, nothing happens.”Everyone has a chance to be heroic, Dr. Emily Landon, the chief infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Chicago Medicine, said at a news conference last week. “It’s really hard to feel like you’re saving the world when you’re watching Netflix from your couch,” she said. “But if we do this right, nothing happens.”
Dr. Landon urged patience as Illinois enacted stay-at-home measures. “A successful shelter in place means that you’re going to feel like it was all for nothing,” she said. “You’d be right, because nothing means that nothing happened to your family. And that’s what we’re going for here.”Dr. Landon urged patience as Illinois enacted stay-at-home measures. “A successful shelter in place means that you’re going to feel like it was all for nothing,” she said. “You’d be right, because nothing means that nothing happened to your family. And that’s what we’re going for here.”
On the front lines of the crisis, doctors and health care workers are finding creative ways to cope with severe shortages at hospitals, and using social media to educate the public as federal health officials have receded from view at White House briefings.On the front lines of the crisis, doctors and health care workers are finding creative ways to cope with severe shortages at hospitals, and using social media to educate the public as federal health officials have receded from view at White House briefings.
In New York, hospitals are pioneering a little-tested method of “ventilator sharing,” and the Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use approval to a device, developed by a South Carolina-based company, that adapts one ventilator for use with four patients.In New York, hospitals are pioneering a little-tested method of “ventilator sharing,” and the Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use approval to a device, developed by a South Carolina-based company, that adapts one ventilator for use with four patients.
In Nebraska, administrators at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have begun an experimental procedure to decontaminate masks with ultraviolet light.In Nebraska, administrators at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have begun an experimental procedure to decontaminate masks with ultraviolet light.
In Massachusetts, Carney Hospital will be used exclusively to treat patients with the coronavirus, and in Washington State, the U.W. Medicine’s Medical Center Northwest in Seattle converted part of a four-story parking garage into a mobile testing clinic.In Massachusetts, Carney Hospital will be used exclusively to treat patients with the coronavirus, and in Washington State, the U.W. Medicine’s Medical Center Northwest in Seattle converted part of a four-story parking garage into a mobile testing clinic.
K.C. Rondello, a disaster epidemiologist at the College of Nursing and Public Health at Adelphi University in New York, said he had been trying to remember these efforts even as he despairs over the patchwork response around the country.K.C. Rondello, a disaster epidemiologist at the College of Nursing and Public Health at Adelphi University in New York, said he had been trying to remember these efforts even as he despairs over the patchwork response around the country.
“Ninety-five percent of what I’m seeing is bad news,” he said. “The silver lining is we’re learning as we go along. We’re making extraordinary efforts.”“Ninety-five percent of what I’m seeing is bad news,” he said. “The silver lining is we’re learning as we go along. We’re making extraordinary efforts.”
Major corporations are also trying to help. The Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan offered free lodging to doctors, nurses and other health care workers. Carmakers and Dyson are converting machines to build ventilators, clothing companies are making masks and the brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev is repurposing breweries for sanitizer. Facebook has donated more than 700,000 masks, and Tim Cook, the chief executive of Apple, pledged to donate millions more to the United States and Europe.Major corporations are also trying to help. The Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan offered free lodging to doctors, nurses and other health care workers. Carmakers and Dyson are converting machines to build ventilators, clothing companies are making masks and the brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev is repurposing breweries for sanitizer. Facebook has donated more than 700,000 masks, and Tim Cook, the chief executive of Apple, pledged to donate millions more to the United States and Europe.
Though a vaccine is expected to be at least 12 months away, doctors are scrambling to improve testing and find anti-viral treatments. A team of hundreds of scientists from New York to Paris are testing 50 drugs as treatments against the virus.Though a vaccine is expected to be at least 12 months away, doctors are scrambling to improve testing and find anti-viral treatments. A team of hundreds of scientists from New York to Paris are testing 50 drugs as treatments against the virus.
Updated July 15, 2020
One company has developed a “smart thermometer” that can track the coronavirus in real time, and researchers are racing to deliver new medicines.One company has developed a “smart thermometer” that can track the coronavirus in real time, and researchers are racing to deliver new medicines.
Even the failures should be encouraging, said Dr. C. Robert Horsburgh, a professor of epidemiology at Boston University. “Doctors are practical people,” he said, noting that even tests that don’t work out can provide useful data. “If you keep trying, eventually something will work,” he said.Even the failures should be encouraging, said Dr. C. Robert Horsburgh, a professor of epidemiology at Boston University. “Doctors are practical people,” he said, noting that even tests that don’t work out can provide useful data. “If you keep trying, eventually something will work,” he said.
The mobilization in the medical field recalls organizing efforts during World War II, said Robert Citino, executive director of the Institute for the Study of War and Democracy at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.The mobilization in the medical field recalls organizing efforts during World War II, said Robert Citino, executive director of the Institute for the Study of War and Democracy at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
“I don’t think there has ever been more human ingenuity devoted to a single scientific problem than the one we’re facing right now,” he said. “I don’t think I’m being a Pollyanna when I say that, when you look at history, what you see is the immense curiosity and immense strength of human beings under crisis.”“I don’t think there has ever been more human ingenuity devoted to a single scientific problem than the one we’re facing right now,” he said. “I don’t think I’m being a Pollyanna when I say that, when you look at history, what you see is the immense curiosity and immense strength of human beings under crisis.”
This outbreak is bad, but experts say it contains important lessons for a disease with even worse factors. The innovations and procedures that cities, states and nations are putting in place now may prepare us for a pandemic with an even higher fatality rate.This outbreak is bad, but experts say it contains important lessons for a disease with even worse factors. The innovations and procedures that cities, states and nations are putting in place now may prepare us for a pandemic with an even higher fatality rate.
“What we’re facing is unprecedented, and I don’t want to downplay its seriousness, but it’s not the worst-case scenario,” said Malia Jones, a researcher who studies infectious diseases at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.“What we’re facing is unprecedented, and I don’t want to downplay its seriousness, but it’s not the worst-case scenario,” said Malia Jones, a researcher who studies infectious diseases at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
The worst-case scenario, she said, would be a new strain of flu that humans have no immunity against, with a higher death rate than the coronavirus and the potential to kill billions. That scenario is akin to movies like “Contagion” and “Outbreak,” but without a vaccine that miraculously appears before the credits roll.The worst-case scenario, she said, would be a new strain of flu that humans have no immunity against, with a higher death rate than the coronavirus and the potential to kill billions. That scenario is akin to movies like “Contagion” and “Outbreak,” but without a vaccine that miraculously appears before the credits roll.
“I hope the takeaway here is that we’ll be better prepared to deal with the next pandemic,” Dr. Jones said. “This is a good practice run for a novel influenza pandemic. That’s the real scary scenario.”“I hope the takeaway here is that we’ll be better prepared to deal with the next pandemic,” Dr. Jones said. “This is a good practice run for a novel influenza pandemic. That’s the real scary scenario.”
At the very least, if the habits people are developing now stick — washing hands for 20 seconds, not touching their faces, keeping a healthy pantry, staying home instead of working sick — they could have a positive effect on outcomes of more common illnesses, like the seasonal flu.At the very least, if the habits people are developing now stick — washing hands for 20 seconds, not touching their faces, keeping a healthy pantry, staying home instead of working sick — they could have a positive effect on outcomes of more common illnesses, like the seasonal flu.
“If we could get some basic hygiene practices as norms in the United States we would have less flu deaths,” Dr. Jones said. “That would be a wonderful outcome.”“If we could get some basic hygiene practices as norms in the United States we would have less flu deaths,” Dr. Jones said. “That would be a wonderful outcome.”