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[PICTURES/VIDEOS] Some positives of the coronavirus situation

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big_pappa_cricket99

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Trying to see some positives out of this whole corona episode? Fish stocks will possibly recover. animal numbers will improve with some species close to extinction possibly making a recovery, Massive improvement in pollution around the world , a deeper respect for animals and what not to consume , the banning of open chinese wet markets Etc.

Feel free to add and discuss
 
Can’t think anything except what you mentioned but knowing us we will come back with a vengeance against those things.

And maybe for people living in joint families maybe getting to know your family better.
 
Polution down.
Familes spending more time together.
Saving costs on commute.
Productivity up.
 
More babies being born in countries like the west where populations have been falling
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The huge decline in road traffic, air travel and other business activities across Europe during the coronavirus pandemic has led to sharp reductions in pollution over several major cities, new images published by the European Space Agency show <a href="https://t.co/b1xQUqMkF7">https://t.co/b1xQUqMkF7</a> <a href="https://t.co/p5o2jYp35d">pic.twitter.com/p5o2jYp35d</a></p>— CNN (@CNN) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1243805066894675973?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
We now understand the true meaning of crisis. Crisis is not when a player gets injured or when the currency falls by a few cents.

Also we now know that we are all the same regardless of our race, colour or religion or bank balance. The virus does not discriminate and so we should also not discriminate in our everyday life.
 
A temporary sense of unity and closeness.

But all these effects will be gone once the life comes back to normal.
 
So many people have lost their lives. There are absolutely no positives from this. All this nature reclaiming blah blah is **.
 
Bhaag Viru Bhaag said:
So many people have lost their lives. There are absolutely no positives from this. All this nature reclaiming blah blah is **.
Click to expand...

Real talk!

I'm concerned about the well being of my loved ones. I don't care one bit about the global CO2 output.
 
Negatives outweigh positives when it comes to Coronavirus.

I just hope that people and governments will learn some lessons after this pandemic is over.
 
One positive I will say is that I never realized how great doctors and nurses are till now. They were seen as regular support to me before this. The biggest positive I see is the perspective of them changing. Doctors are the real heros not those we see on tv wearing tight spandex.
 
Bhaag Viru Bhaag said:
So many people have lost their lives. There are absolutely no positives from this. All this nature reclaiming blah blah is **.
Click to expand...

Humans are not only species in this world. we have never coexisted with nature. But there is no way this will change even after this.
 
gazza619 said:
We now understand the true meaning of crisis. Crisis is not when a player gets injured or when the currency falls by a few cents.

Also we now know that we are all the same regardless of our race, colour or religion or bank balance. The virus does not discriminate and so we should also not discriminate in our everyday life.
Click to expand...

One positive I will say is that I never realized how great doctors and nurses are till now. They were seen as regular support to me before this. The biggest positive I see is the perspective of them changing. Doctors are the real heros not those we see on tv wearing tight spandex.
Click to expand...

This and this. Certain generations (late 1980s onwards) did not experience any real form of crisis until now. Life was so comfortable that they started inventing their own problems. Now they know what a real crisis is and hopefully it makes people appreciate the life they have once things go back to normal and also develop some form of empathy for those who pretty much live under these conditions all the time.

And secondly this has opened many eyes to how important the healthcare system is. Hopefully, this leads to more appreciation for doctors and nurses and leads to governments around the world bolstering funding and support for healthcare in their countries and cutting back on the trillions spent unnecessarily of defence.
 
Coronavirus lockdowns give Europe's cities cleaner air

Air pollution has decreased in urban areas across Europe during lockdowns to combat the coronavirus, new satellite images showed on Monday, but campaigners warned city-dwellers were still more vulnerable to the epidemic.

Cities including Brussels, Paris, Madrid, Milan and Frankfurt showed a reduction in average levels of noxious nitrogen dioxide over March 5-25, compared with the same period last year, according to the Sentinel-5 satellite images.

That coincides with lockdowns in many European countries which have curbed road transport – the largest source of nitrogen oxides - and slowed output at gas-emitting factories.

The new images, released by the European Space Agency (ESA) and analyzed by the non-profit European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), show the changing density of nitrogen dioxide, which can cause respiratory problems and cancer, like heat maps.

Daily weather events can influence atmospheric pollution, so the satellite pictures took a 20-day average and excluded readings where cloud cover reduced the quality of the data.

Data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) showed a similar trend over March 16-22. In Madrid, average nitrogen dioxide levels decreased by 56% week-on-week after the Spanish government banned non-essential travel on March 14.

The EPHA said people living in polluted cities may be more at risk from COVID-19, because prolonged exposure to bad air can weaken the immune system, making it harder to fight infection.

“That connection is very likely,” Zoltan Massay-Kosubek, policy manager for clean air at EPHA, told Reuters. “But because the disease is new, it still has to be demonstrated.”

Air pollution can cause or exacerbate lung cancer, pulmonary disease and strokes.

China also recorded a drop in nitrogen dioxide pollution in cities during February, when the government imposed draconian lockdown measures to contain the raging epidemic.

In some regions of Poland, however, nitrogen dioxide levels remained relatively high during the period despite its lockdown, perhaps due to the prevalence of coal-based heating.

Countries that went into lockdown later - such as Britain, which did so on March 23 - look set for a pollution reprieve in coming weeks, EPHA said.

Air pollution causes around 400,000 premature deaths each year in Europe, EEA data show.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...give-europes-cities-cleaner-air-idUSKBN21G0XA
 
Bhaag Viru Bhaag said:
So many people have lost their lives. There are absolutely no positives from this. All this nature reclaiming blah blah is **.
Click to expand...

More people die from Alcohol, how comes that isnt news or we are not concerned? The media.

The one real positive is the final realisation that mass media is the real cancer in the world, not a virus.
 
Dios said:
This and this. Certain generations (late 1980s onwards) did not experience any real form of crisis until now. Life was so comfortable that they started inventing their own problems. Now they know what a real crisis is and hopefully it makes people appreciate the life they have once things go back to normal and also develop some form of empathy for those who pretty much live under these conditions all the time.

And secondly this has opened many eyes to how important the healthcare system is. Hopefully, this leads to more appreciation for doctors and nurses and leads to governments around the world bolstering funding and support for healthcare in their countries and cutting back on the trillions spent unnecessarily of defence.
Click to expand...

You missed a crucial point. Life was comfortable back then when there was no mass media/internet/social media.
 
more people home, more they gonna eat. so we need more chicken, cows, goats. I do not think this will help animal in any way.
I used to eat twice per day. Since last two weeks i been eating three times since i am home. I am sure there are more people who do the same.

Pollution will go down until lock down.
If this lockdown continue more than a month then i think we start seeing food shortage and all sort of bad things.
I do not see any positivity in this case.
 
I can't think of any positives, this is just sad. I am praying everyday for our muslim brothers and sisters to be safe and the ones we have lost to grant them jannah. Stay safe brothers and pray for our well being.
 
India breathes cleanest air amid coronavirus lockdown

In a bittersweet twist of fate, air pollution in India plunged to its lowest levels over the past few days - but no-one could enjoy it!

It’s the sixth day of a nationwide lockdown, and the unprecedented move has had at least one positive side effect.

In the national capital, Delhi, which dominated headlines last year for having the worst air pollution in the world, residents woke up to clear blue skies over the weekend.

Air quality apps on phones showed that AQI was below 50 - or "good” air quality - which is a rare occurrence in Delhi.

Some 90 Indian cities witnessed record-levels of minimal air pollution, reported local media.

Particulate matter pollution in major Indian cities is also at an all-time low, according to Quartz. In comparison to the same time last year, the air quality is significantly better right now.

Environmentalists have urged the government to take note, calling it a "wake-up call" to usher in concrete policy that will help tackle hazardous levels of air pollution.

But the real question is whether India can sustain such levels once the lockdown is lifted.

Source bbc
 
Sweet are the uses of adversity, and if there is a silver lining to this Covid-19 cloud it is that not a single major crime has occurred or been reported in Dubai these past two months.

According to Major General Expert Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, there have been no thefts, robberies or acts of violence including murders.

Speaking to KT, Al Mansouri explained that when faced with a crisis people tend to give priority to their safety and that of their loved ones and family. He added that the main factor responsible for zero crime is an awareness in the community of the enormity of the problem and we are all in this together.

He explained that many crimes or robberies are committed in crowded areas, such as stealing money from victims or robbing a bank or a store. The social distancing has made this difficult even for the most seasoned crooks. Also, all crimes related to burglaries are committed when homes are empty but because people are staying in their houses, there is no opportunity.

Addtionally, Al Mansouri said that 99 per cent of the illegal drug market or smuggling crimes have disappeared, as the current situation and restricted movement and enhanced surveillance has hindered criminals from engaging in such acts.

On the other hand, the e-crimes and reports of cyber-crimes have remained at the same level in this time frame.

In September 2019, the Dubai Police launched their e-crime platform on the police app, which was available only on the website. The new platform made it much easier file a report about E-crimes in few steps.

Al Mansouri took this opportunity to send a message to the public asking citizens and expats to never violate the instructions of the National Sterilization programme. He also cautioned against spreading rumors or fake news or misusing social media, stressing that the police will locate the violators and take legal actions against them. Vigilance on anyone disrupting or interfering in government efforts to combat the crisis is 24/7 and given a top priority.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/corona...ct-no-crimes-reported-for-two-months-in-dubai
 
Pakistan's health sector getting much much much needed attention. Health should be the top priority of any govt. but in Pakistan it has not got any attention.
 
also sadly it has shown how poor our health system is. It looks like all these parties enjoy pumping money on their election rallies and political jalsas rather spend on health and education.
 
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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-1iGMdJyXd/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">People can see the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas from Punjab after pollution levels dropped due to the coronavirus lockdown. Locals say that it's the first time in 30 years that the mountain peaks have been visible nearly 125 miles away.</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/guardian/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> The Guardian</a> (@guardian) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2020-04-11T10:00:22+00:00">Apr 11, 2020 at 3:00am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
 
[VIDEO] Cities of Pakistan during the lockdown

<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTurrLahore%2Fvideos%2F646798746173119%2F&show_text=1&width=560" width="560" height="457" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Lovely... so pur sakoon


I heard Lahore's air quality index improved by a factor of 10.
 
Never thought our cities would look this good!
 
Lockdown cuts road fatalities by around 40%

Deadly traffic accidents in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have fallen by at least 40 per cent ever since the government imposed a lockdown in late March to fight against the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, official statistics have revealed.

With citizens staying at home and public transport parked in their stands, dozens of lives have been saved. The reckless activity of one-wheeling, popular amongst youngsters in the twin cities and a major cause of fatal accidents, has also stopped, resulting in lower road traffic injuries.

Police, rescue services and hospitals said that as many as 1,500 road accidents took place in the twin cities between December 15 and January 15. These resulted in 55 fatalities.
Similarly, 1,486 traffic accidents were reported in the subsequent period, from January 16 to February 15, 2020. The first Covid-19 case in Pakistan was reported on February 26, and traffic accidents began to decline from then on.

From February 26 to 15 March, officials recorded only 955 traffic accidents. From March 16 to April 15, most of which was under lockdown, only 617 traffic accidents occurred in the two neighbouring cities.

In these accidents, 21 people were killed. Of these, five were residents of Islamabad and 16 were from Rawalpindi. Besides, 10 people were injured during this period as a result of road accidents.

Rescue 1122 Emergency Officer Hamza Ali Khan said that they receive the most calls for fatal traffic accidents on the busy thoroughfares of Murree Road, Islamabad Express Highway, the Grand Trunk (GT) Road, Motorway, and Rawal Road.

He added that most of the victims are motorbike riders.

The strict implementation of traffic laws, he said could help prevent fatal accidents.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi City Traffic Police Education Centre Head SI Hammad said that additional contingents of police will be deployed on major highways to ensure that the lockdown is effectively implemented and immediate action can be taken against violators.

Claiming that around 80 per cent of all road accident deaths involve motorcyclists, he said that at the moment, most citizens are staying at home, contributing to lower accident rates.

He further said that the traffic police will ensure that the number of road casualties remains low even when the lockdown is finally lifted.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2200707/lockdown-cuts-road-fatalities-around-40/
 
Source SkyNews:

The Italian Alps are now visible above Milan thanks to the lack of pollution

skynews-coronavirus-italy-pollution-before-after_4973921.jpg
 
Pandemic to drive carbon emissions down 6 percent: WMO

The coronavirus pandemic is expected to drive carbon dioxide emissions down by six percent this year, the head of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said, in what would be the biggest yearly drop since World War II.

"This crisis has had an impact on the emissions of greenhouse gases," WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas told a virtual briefing in Geneva.

"We estimate that there is going to be a six percent drop in carbon emissions this year because of the lack of emissions from transportation and industrial energy production."
 
Lockdowns in response to the pandemic will see global emissions fall by a record 8%, the International Energy Agency says
 
Leopards, jackals and other creatures living in Islamabad’s tree-covered hills have been enjoying rare respite from the throngs of hikers and joggers that normally pack the trails of Pakistan’s capital, reports AFP.

Rangers in the Margalla Hills National Park saw animal activity increase soon after the city was locked down in March to counter the coronavirus. Islamabad’s normally reclusive leopards have been roaming onto deserted pathways, and social networks are rife with talk of purported sightings.

Motion-triggered wildlife cameras have been clicking away as animals explore areas they had long been nervous to visit. “There is a big increase in the number of animals [seen] in the national park,” ranger Imran Khan – not to be confused with the namesake prime minister – said.

Images the park provided include pictures of leopards padding along paths, an inquisitive jackal and a muddy boar. “Wildlife is comfortable as there are no visitors here. They are wandering here comfortably, which is a good sign for the jungle,” Khan said.

The park was locked down for about a month and foot traffic remains light as families, picnickers and walkers stay away during the fasting period of Ramadan.
 
MenInG said:
Leopards, jackals and other creatures living in Islamabad’s tree-covered hills have been enjoying rare respite from the throngs of hikers and joggers that normally pack the trails of Pakistan’s capital, reports AFP.

Rangers in the Margalla Hills National Park saw animal activity increase soon after the city was locked down in March to counter the coronavirus. Islamabad’s normally reclusive leopards have been roaming onto deserted pathways, and social networks are rife with talk of purported sightings.

Motion-triggered wildlife cameras have been clicking away as animals explore areas they had long been nervous to visit. “There is a big increase in the number of animals [seen] in the national park,” ranger Imran Khan – not to be confused with the namesake prime minister – said.

Images the park provided include pictures of leopards padding along paths, an inquisitive jackal and a muddy boar. “Wildlife is comfortable as there are no visitors here. They are wandering here comfortably, which is a good sign for the jungle,” Khan said.

The park was locked down for about a month and foot traffic remains light as families, picnickers and walkers stay away during the fasting period of Ramadan.
Click to expand...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VIDEO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VIDEO</a> Leopards, jackals and other creatures living in Islamabad's tree-covered hills have been enjoying a rare respite from the throngs of hikers and joggers that normally pack the trails &#55357;&#56326;<a href="https://t.co/5s4lQG9EfM">https://t.co/5s4lQG9EfM</a> <a href="https://t.co/WQsYEPz4xF">pic.twitter.com/WQsYEPz4xF</a></p>— AFP news agency (@AFP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1261663947054133248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Afghan girls make ventilators out of car parts

Afghanistan's all-girl robotics team has turned it focus on coronavirus patients - by making affordable ventilators out of car parts.

_112379100_3fca0c23-a320-4bdd-a8cb-f66deb947730.jpg


The teenagers made headlines in 2017 when they won a special award at an international competition in the US.

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Now they are racing against time to deliver ventilators by the end of May, at a fraction of the market price.

Afghanistan, reeling from years of war, has a maximum of just 400 ventilators for a population of 38.9 million.

So far, more than 7,650 coronavirus cases and 178 deaths have been confirmed, but the authorities fear the situation could get worse and overwhelm an already fragile healthcare system.

"It's important even if we can save one life with our effort," team member Nahid Rahimi, 17, told the BBC.

Known as the "Afghan Dreamers", the girls come from the western province of Herat, where Afghanistan's first case of Covid-19 was reported.

It's the nation's hotspot for the pandemic because of its close proximity to Iran, the region's epicentre of the outbreak.

The girls, aged between 14 and 17, have built a prototype using a motor from a used Toyota Corolla and a chain drive from a Honda motorcycle.

They say their ventilators will give temporary relief to patients with respiratory difficulty in an emergency when standard ventilators are not available.

"I feel so proud to be part of a team that is trying to do something meaningful to support our doctors and nurses - they are our heroes at this time," says team captain, Somaya Faruqi.

The global shortage of ventilators is a problem and their hefty price of $30,000 (£24,000) to $50,000 (£40,700) on the global market means many poorer countries can't afford them.

But the teenagers say they are building the much-needed device for less than $600 each.

With shops closed and the city of Herat under lockdown, the challenge that the girls are facing is travelling outside the province to source parts.

But the founder of the group, Roya Mahboob, an entrepreneur who has been among Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World, says her team is still hoping to deliver the ventilators by the end of May.

"They're about 70% finished. The only thing we're lacking is the air sensor, which we're trying to source rather than build from scratch as it takes time.

"The first phase is complete and it was tested in a hospital two days ago. The team are working on phase two, which once completed can be introduced to the market."

With a less than 30% female literacy rate in the country, the teenagers hope their project will inspire others and change the perception of women in the engineering industry.

"It [being able to make ventilators] shows the importance of teaching girls at a young age and the role of women as active citizens in our society," says another team member, Elham Mansori, 16.

The initiative has been welcomed by the Afghan government.

"I'm glad President Ashraf Ghani has personally ordered the authorities to look into our project and to help us in any way possible" says Ms Mahboob.

The Afghan health ministry is supporting the girls.

"We appreciate their initiative but like any other scientific research, there are phases for it, like discovery and development, pre-clinical research and when it's offered in the market it's analysed and approved," Waheed Mayar, spokesperson for the health ministry, told the BBC.

"Patient safety is our priority so we have to make sure the device is tested on animals in laboratories first before being tried on coronavirus patients."
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52738668
 
Generational shift? Historian sees virus encouraging new values

The coronavirus pandemic could encourage a generation to turn away from a culture of selfishness, with young people now wanting to do jobs where they can help others, Dutch historian Rutger Bregman believes.

Bregman, 32, whose latest book “Humankind” argues that people are generally decent rather than evil, became famous last year when he told a wealthy audience at the Davis World Economic Forum that they should pay more tax.

In an interview with Reuters Television, Bregman said he sensed the virus crisis was showing that things are changing and there is “a shift in the Zeitgeist” for the younger generation.

“We are now moving into a different kind of era that is more about public service, about cooperation, about basically what’s decent,” he said.

Governments had published lists of essential professions in the crisis and this could have a huge impact on a whole generation, Bregman said.

“If you look at these lists, you’re like, where are the hedge fund managers? You know, where are the bankers, or the marketeers?”

He said it was clear who were doing the important jobs now - nurses, teachers, care workers and journalists.

“I think we could see a real shift here, that now there could be a new generation, and I think we already see the early signs of this, of people who want to do a job where you actually help other people,” he said.

As for other post-pandemic changes, Bregman saw a decline in travel with people appreciating local values more, although global cooperation would be needed on climate change.

And after months of social distancing, would there be an end to the handshake and the hug?

“No, I don’t think you can ever kill the handshake or the hug, especially not the hug,” Bregman said. “People are hard-wired to connect with one another.”

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...rus-encouraging-new-values-idUKKBN23B21U?il=0
 
KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Migratory birds have flocked to the wetlands of Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh in greater numbers this year, and officials and observers link the increase to coronavirus lockdown measures that have kept hunters and bird catchers away.

Pakistan, which has recorded over 185,000 cases and 3,696 deaths related to the virus, lifted a month-long country-wide lockdown last month.

A survey conducted this year observed 741,042 migratory birds in Sindh province - a big jump from the 248,105 birds counted in 2019, said Sindh Wildlife Department’s provincial conservator, Javed Ahmed Mahar.

Each year, approximately 40 percent of Sindh’s wetlands are surveyed to gain insight into the migratory patterns and numbers of birds.

Migratory birds, among them pelicans, mallards, cranes and waders, stop in Pakistan on their way to and from Siberia.

Veteran Pakistani wildlife photographer Ahmer Ali Rizvi said coronavirus measures had helped the birds to settle in.

“The birds have stayed longer this year, maybe due to meagre disturbances by humans due to the lockdown everywhere,” he said.

Mahar said that Sindh authorities had not recorded any wildlife-related crimes such as trapping, hunting or illegal trading in the province since the lockdown was imposed.

Hunting has been a problem in the area, threatening several rare species, including the houbara bustard.

“The illegal trade in the domestic markets is no more,” he said.

There are more than 33 wildlife sanctuaries and one national park in Sindh, which is home to more than 300 bird species.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...-lockdown-keeps-poachers-at-bay-idUSKBN23U1A8
 
Cumbrian wildlife thriving during lockdown

An unintended silver lining of the pandemic is that wildlife in meadows across Cumbria, in north-west England, has been thriving after councils were unable to cut the grass as regularly during lockdown.

Kevin Scott from Cumbria Wildlife Trust says allowing some grass and other plants to grow is great for nature as different grass species and wildflowers provide an important habitat for pollinators and butterflies.

Councils in the county say they are now considering reducing the amount of times they cut the grass after seeing the benefit to wildlife.
 
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