Hidden Benefits of Coronavirus

There is no denying that Coronavirus is terrible. It has killed many people and devastated the economy, causing many to lose their jobs. It has also cancelled fun plans and just gotten in the way of everything. But I like to look on the brightside, and there are some unexpected benefits of Covid-19.

The biggest benefit of coronavirus is the environmental benefits. According to Newsweek and BBC, coronavirus is having huge impacts on the environment. Big cities such as Dubai and Los Angeles have reported their lowest levels of air pollution in years. Because less people are driving cars, riding airplanes, or using transport in general in response to the social distancing and stay at home guidelines set by the CDC, there has been a decrease in CO2 emissions which has helped to lower air pollution and smog throughout the world.

Another environmental impact is seen through animals. In India, turtles have been seen hatching at a beach that has not hatched turtles in years because of the amount of people constantly on the beach. In France, dolphins have been spotted in areas near the coast where they used to be common but because of boat traffic and pollution they have not been spotted there for a long time. No ones knows whether this will really have a lasting impact but I hope that we can use this as an example of the changes that we are capable of making even once the pandemic is over so that we can better protect our environment.

The other benefit of coronavirus is that it is bringing people together. This might seem counter intuitive; however, this has actually united people. Everyone feels like they are in the same situation, being stuck together inside, dealing with the same problems. This has even inspired slogans like “we are in this together.” It has also encouraged people to get creative in how they interact, from online meetings to having social distancing picnics where people gather to talk while standing 6 feet apart. There have been videos of quarantined people in Italy having neighborhood parties while everyone stayed on their own balconies. I think that this is such a great thing to bring our communities together because by staying strong together and looking for new activities, I think that we are bonding in a way we never would have if not for the quarantine.

People have also gone to extra lengths to entertain each other. Noah Centineo gave out his phone number and encouraged fans to text him, and Chris Hemsworth is doing at home work out videos (and who wouldn’t consider that a perk). Other celebrities are doing online concerts for those stuck at home. Our shared suffering and creativity has bonded the world in a way we never would have expected.

Coronavirus is never going to be a good thing, but finding a silver lining can help everyone get through this difficult time. Whether that bright spot is watching videos of Chris Hemsworth shirtless, partying on your balcony, or looking up and seeing a clear sky, we do have things to be thankful for. We will get through this together.