From the 19:00 clapping for healthcare workers in the UK to Italian citizens conducting balcony concerts, coronavirus good news stories are lighting up the lives of people around the world. As many countries struggle to contain the virus and put measures in place to keep their citizens safe, it’s important for us to remember that we’re all in this together – even if we have to remain apart. People all over have found unique ways to show solidarity with healthcare workers, virus sufferers and one another – without stepping outside their doors.
We asked our fellow Tiqeteers to share some of the most heartwarming ways that people in their respective countries are responding to the coronavirus crisis. So, sit back, enjoy some coronavirus good news, and perhaps find some inspiration for your next good deed for the day.
Coronavirus good news in Europe
The Netherlands
I live along the Prinsengracht canal in Amsterdam, and several times now an old man in a boat with a music box and trumpet has rowed down the canal and performed a live concert for the full street. Once, a jazz trio (all socially distanced across their boat) treated us to a rousing performance on a Friday afternoon as well! I consider the musical boats Amsterdam’s version of the balcony performances in Italy and other towns.
Rachel Grate, Amsterdam
One cool thing the local government in Amsterdam is doing is providing laptops for people who need them. A lot of kids can’t follow digital classes due to a lack of a personal computer at home, so 3,000 laptops have been freed up for them. Similarly, 1,000 laptops and WiFi connections are being provided for at-risk groups like elderly people, who might otherwise lose contact with the outside world during social distancing and isolation measures.
Mick Murray, Amsterdam
Denmark
In the beginning of April, Danish pilots made a heart in the sky over Copenhagen in appreciation of the healthcare workers fighting COVID-19.
Heidi Andersen, Denmark
Italy
In Naples, we are doing something called panaro solidale, which roughly translates to bread-basket solidarity. The idea is that people put a basket of food outside of their homes for anyone who can’t afford to buy food. The motto for the concept is “If you can, leave something. If you cannot, take something.”
Julia Zelle, Naples
I’m from Italy and when I think about what Italians are doing during this crisis, two things come to my mind. First, people have been hanging images of rainbows outside their houses with the quote: andrà tutto bene – everything will be fine. The second thing that comes to mind is that a group of musicians from my hometown, Verona, created a video in which they all play the same song from their different locations together. At the end of the song, there was a link to give money to the local hospitals.
Sara Cinacchi, Amsterdam
Lithuania
A photographer created a pretty nice project in Lithuania where he took portraits of families on their balconies during self isolation using a drone. I think this was a really nice way to make everyone, the families pictured and those who saw the pictures, a little happier!
Gerda Užubalytė, Amsterdam
Spain
Casa Batlló, one of Tiqets’ top venues in Barcelona, launched a great initiative to keep Sant Jordi (St. George’s Day) alive during the Spanish lockdown. Sant Jordi is one of the most deep-rooted traditions in Catalunya. Every year on 23 April, we Catalans celebrate this day by giving roses and books to our loved ones. Casa Batlló covers its balconies with roses every year. Unfortunately, this is not possible this year, so they have created a video to encourage people to cover their own balconies with roses and show everybody that Catalans are still full of love, despite the current situation.
Jaume Vidal, Barcelona
The UK
Every Thursday at 20:00, everyone comes out of their houses to clap for healthcare workers in the UK. It started as a clap for just the NHS (National Health Service), which was quite serene and involved just a gentle clap. But now the gesture has expanded to thank all essential workers, and the gentle clap has “expanded” too; now, we bang pots and pans, we shout and cheer, and some of us even do a little dance. I guess as it’s one of the only times we get to leave our houses, we’re making the most of it!
Some more coronavirus good news: the rainbow. We’re asking children to draw or paint a rainbow to spread hope and pop it in the front windows of their homes. So when anyone goes out on their daily exercise allowance they can spot the rainbows and smile as they walk past. Some artists are also getting involved, Damien Hirst and Quintin Blake, and now even Prince Louis is in on the act.
Alexis Peppis, London
Coronavirus good news in the US
Here in the US, there are a lot of great examples of people showing solidarity with those fighting the virus – both the healthcare workers and those who have contracted the virus. These two examples stood out to me. San Francisco’s iconic buildings are lighting up in purple, which is the official color of hospitality. And, the Thunderbirds (housed in Las Vegas at Nellis AFB) did a city-wide flyover on 11 April. They flew over every hospital with blue jet streams to honour healthcare workers.
Sue Warnke, Las Vegas
One of the things I saw that I thought was particularly special was that in the US, a couple of kids played the cello for their self-quarantined neighbour. It became a viral video so now we can all enjoy this cute gesture and lovely music!
Marlene Tillmann, Amsterdam
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