With Coronavirus cases on the rise, coverage of the virus has infected every corner of the internet. Log onto Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, or even TikTok and you're bound to be confronted with some variation of harrowing news and sobering realities.
There's no doubt: COVID-19 does demand our immediate action and attention. But as global health officials normalize lockdowns and mandate quarantines, the global population is spending more time online than ever before. Bombarded by tragic headlines and disheartening updates, it's increasingly hard to cope.
If you're struggling to keep that balance, here are 5 recent Coronavirus updates that inspire hope.
Amid China's tremendous outbreak, Apple closed all its stores early in February. But according to
Bloomberg, an Apple company spokesman has confirmed that all 42 retail stores will be reopening.
While the Chinese government has reported reduced cases and strong improvements, the company's commercial reopening is some of the first third-party evidence that life in China is beginning to return to normal. With infections ramping up in the rest of the world, this small restoration of normalcy presents a small light at the end of the tunnel.
No population is as vulnerable to COVID-19 as the elderly and immunocompromised. But last week, 103-year-old Wuhan grandmother Zhang Guangfen became the oldest individual in the world to successfully recover. After just 6 days of treatment, Guangfen tested negative.
After being cleared on Tuesday of this week, Guangfen was discharged. Only a handful of days earlier, another 101-year-old Wuhan resident successfully beat the virus after treatment—proving that although the COVID-19 is clearly lethal in many cases, it is still sometimes still beatable, even for the elderly.
As pharmaceutical companies across the globe race for a vaccine, a few promising developments have made way. One of which is a Japanese influenza drug which has proven effective in treating current carriers.
Favipiravir, which was developed by a subsidiary of Fujifilm, has been described as "highly effective and extremely safe." According to the
Guardian, Coronavirus patients who were administered Favipiravir in Shenzhen, China tested negative for the virus after just four days of treatment. Although the world is still waiting on a confirmed vaccine, treatments like Favipiravir will likely expedite recovery periods and save lives in the coming months.
Despite China's high infection rates, neighboring nation Taiwan has done an excellent job at keeping the virus contained. With just 100 recorded cases, Taiwan's efforts to isolate cases and treat patients have proved remarkably effective.
According to
Wired, the nation's success is due largely to pervasive screening, thorough contact tracing, and skillful use of innovative technology. According to experts, Taiwan’s efforts and multifaceted response have proven an excellent template for nations that are currently struggling to manage their own outbreaks.
When COVID-19 first swept the nation, China had no choice but to construct makeshift hospitals. In a matter of days, 16 new facilities were built to help handle the pandemic. But according to
Reuters, a promising decline in new cases and a steadily growing number of recovered patients have eliminated the necessity for these emergency units.
Now, Coronavirus patients are being treated exclusively in China's established medical facilities. The nation still has a considerable amount of cases. However, the closing of the country's last makeshift emergency unit is a hopeful illustration of the disease's decline.
