General News
17 April, 2020
OPINION: And now for some good news
there seem to be some positives to the current COVID-19 epidemic.
And now for some good news
My heart genuinely goes out to people who have lost their jobs and livelihoods and I hope government subsidies are helping you through this challenging time.
But there seem to be some positives to the current COVID-19 epidemic.
I’ve been surprised at how many people I’ve seen going for a walk past my house either with their dog or with their kids on bikes or even with their partner. And they’re talking, no phones, no social media updates, just good old-fashioned talking to each other.
I went for a walk this morning and every person I passed not only gave me a one and a half metre wide berth, but they also said good morning.
We are now seeing fewer cars on the road as more people work from home and tougher restrictions are announced for public gatherings. Experts are saying that air pollution and carbon emission levels are on the way down due to the restrictions imposed on us.
Footage released in March by the European Space Agency shows China and Italy have seen drops in pollution levels since they went into lockdown.
Residents in northern India have been left in complete awe by their new view. The snow-capped Himalayas are now visible for the first time in 30 years. The beautiful mountains are 200kms away but have not been visible for decades due to high pollution levels.
Animals have started creeping back into urban areas due to the lack of road traffic.
Apart from toilet paper, there are a few other items that have been quietly flying off the shelves, including, slow cookers, bread makers and pasta makers.
People are now spending more time in their kitchen cooking real food rather than getting takeaway Big Macs or a bucket from The Colonel.
Another big seller has been seeds, potting mix and garden beds, as people start growing their own food again. Police have also reported that crime is down.
While I sympathise with people who have lost their jobs working in pubs and clubs, there must be a sigh of relief from people who are addicted to poker machines.
How many times have we said in our life “I have no time”?
With the current lockdown, we do have more time, more time for family, exercise and hobbies.
Now is the perfect time to cross that new year’s resolution off your bucket list.
Write a book, paint, ride a bike, volunteer, plant a garden, skype that friend who lives overseas.
Our national parks are still open, go for a walk, go for a long walk, so long in fact that the nearest person to you is 1.5 kilometres away, not 1.5 metres.
People who are stuck at home are recording music, taking photos and unleashing their creative side.
Maybe COVID-19 doesn’t have to be about getting sick, maybe it should be about getting healthy.
We are washing our hands more, planting more food, spending more time with family and watching out for each other.
That can only be good news.
