This photo is in the public domain
by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition
Our Canadian colleague Jan L. Mayes reports that in Vancouver people are working together to help amuse children who can’t play with each other due to the social isolation recommendations during the COVID-19 epidemic. One of these is a “bear hunt.” Residents place teddy bears in the windows of their homes or apartments, for the children to spot and count. There are plans for similar Easter egg hunts, with pictures of Easter eggs to be placed in the windows.
These quiet activities contrast sharply with reports of people banging pans to show support for hospital workers as they go to their workplaces, or community singing from windows or balconies in Italy. Or TV host Jimmy Fallon’s cowbell challenge in the United States.
We have reported that the air has become both quieter (Jimmy Fallon excepted) and cleaner in many parts of the world as people shelter in place and avoid social contact.
This may be a small silver lining in the coronavirus cloud enveloping us all.
