A New Dawn Coming?

A silver lining to the coronavirus may be hard to find, but there just might be a glimmer of hope, some good news, even a sign (and a sigh) of relief.
Well, here in Australia, anyway.

Let’s see what has been revealed over the past few days:
Firstly:

• “Australia has recorded its lowest daily increase in cases since early March...” (From Guardian Australia)

And, those numbers are continuing to decline.

Perhaps the cause of that good news can be found here: 

• “The Australian Bureau of Statistics released its first survey … looking at the household impacts of COVID-19. It collected information from 1059 people via telephone between March 31 and April 6. According to the survey, a staggering 98 per cent of Australians said they had been practising social distancing … The survey also found about 88 per cent of those surveyed were avoiding public spaces and public events, and about 87 per cent had cancelled personal gatherings.”

(from News.com.au)

According to latest figures, Australia is at a seven-day average of substantially below 50 new cases diagnosed.
How good is that?
AND:

• Although the reason is not yet clear, Hospital Emergency patient numbers have plummeted. That means there are fewer people taking up room and (nurse & doctor) time when both are needed elsewhere.

(There is a slight problem here as some medical staff are worried that people are avoiding hospitals, when perhaps they should be seeking treatment for other (non coronavirus) ailments).
 

• In most Australian states, there are now thousands of hospital beds that are currently not needed. They are still there - and we must hope that they will stay empty…but must not be complacent.

 

• Then there’s the fact that, although the (Australian) flu season has begun, cases of (ordinary) flu have decreased dramatically.

Reasoning behind this is that, because of staying at home, social distancing PLUS the added bonus that people have learned how to -  and have embraced -  the wonderful ‘new idea’ of effective hand washing!
 

• Hospitals have announced that some elective surgery could resume within a week.

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These are just some of the good stories.

Apart from the sickness and hospital side of things:

• Online shopping deliveries shows there has been a boom like no other - and good times for those who are legitimately using online methods to sell products. Plus, great for people needing goods but don’t wish to leave home.

(Australia Post is very busy!)
 
There has been a rise in quality work by inspired street artists...

• The coronavirus pandemic is inspiring street artists to get painting, whether it's to express political views and fears, to thank heroes or just to point out the absurdity of the situation. (Look them up) 

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• Sales of bicycles is the highest in memory for many bike shops.
  
• What a good sign that is!

 

• Most capital cities have the clearest, bluest skies in years.
  
• Another win!  

 

• There has been a boom in pet sales and ‘adoption’ of cats and dogs from animal shelters…assuming these pets are continued to be loved and cared for after the crisis is over, it’s a wonderful thing.

So you see, although there may be no real silver lining, there is reason for hope for a future – coronavirus free.

We should not forget the people who have suffered; those who have been victims of this awful illness – and those who have lost loved ones because of the virus.
We must be thankful for what Australia has achieved.
And...We must not forget the tireless work done by medical teams.

This poem (below) popped up online the other day. It’s beautiful and I hope it’s okay to share it.
 
And the people stayed home.
And read books, and listened, and rested,
and exercised, and made art,
and played games, and learned new ways of being,
and were still.
And listened more deeply.
Some meditated, some prayed, some danced.
Some met their shadows.
And the people began to think differently.
And the people healed.
And, in the absence of people living in ignorant,
dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways,
the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed,
and the people joined together again,
they grieved their losses, and made new choices,
and dreamed new images,
and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully,
as they had been healed.
(by U.S. writer/poet/retired teacher, Kitty O’Meara)

Keep safe, keep well, wash your hands.