The coronavirus has affected human life across the globe.

While constant news about the virus can be disheartening, the human spirit is adapting in fantastic and wonderful ways.

This article, updated regularly, will hope to share the wonderful ways people around the world are coping with coronavirus. If you have an uplifting, quirky, funny or fantastic story please feel free to share it with us at newsdesk@benzinga.com or on our Twitter.

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Some Coronavirus Good News

Fashion industry answers the call for masks and personal protective equipment to fight Covid-19

From CNN: With stores closed, runway shows canceled and global supply chains disrupted, much of the fashion industry has been rendered idle by the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, designers, luxury labels and fashion conglomerates are all stepping up to help overcome shortages of masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) in some of the hardest-hit countries.

Coronavirus pandemic leading to huge drop in air pollution

From The Guardian: The coronavirus pandemic is shutting down industrial activity and temporarily slashing air pollution levels around the world, satellite imagery from the European Space Agency shows.

One expert said the sudden shift represented the “largest scale experiment ever” in terms of the reduction of industrial emissions.

Readings from ESA’s Sentinel-5P satellite show that over the past six weeks, levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) over cities and industrial clusters in Asia and Europe were markedly lower than in the same period last year.

Cleaning up: Scottish whisky makers now distilling hand gel

From Aljazeera: Scotland's ability to manufacture (and consume) alcohol such as Scotch whisky may be world-renowned, but Scottish distilleries are today joining the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Responding to a global shortage of hand sanitiser, which has seen barren supermarket shelves across Scotland and the United Kingdom as demand outstripped supply, some Scottish spirit makers have begun a novel form of alcohol production that, just days ago, would have been seen as laughable.

Norm Macdonald Delivers Much-Needed Laughs

From Vulture: In a March 13 set at Hollywood Improv, comedian Norm Macdonald riffed on the most "too-soon" topic imaginable: the coronavirus. The 5-minute, 33-second segment was highlighted by Vulture on Wednesday, where writer John Roy called the performance "the first great set about the coronavirus." 

In the set, Macdonald touches on hand sanitizer, mortality, not touching his face and hand-washing. 

"It's funny how big pharma is so evil. Until now," he said. 

Quicken Loans Community Fund and Gilbert Family Foundation Announce $1.2 Million Donation to Address Detroit Coronavirus Impact

From Quicken Loans: The Quicken Loans Community Fund and Gilbert Family Foundation today announced a combined $1.2 million donation to address the ongoing impact of coronavirus in Detroit.

The investment includes:

• $250,000 donations by both the Quicken Loans Community Fund and Gilbert Family Foundation into the United Way for Southeastern Michigan COVID-19 Community Response Fund that will support vulnerable populations and the nonprofits serving those in need amid the coronavirus pandemic ($500,000 total).
• A $250,000 investment by the Gilbert Family Foundation to the United Community Housing Coalition to address housing instability, including mortgage, rental and utility assistance, as well as additional issues exacerbated by the effects of coronavirus on the community.
• $450,000 to be provided as flexible investments by the Quicken Loans Community Fund for small businesses and existing grant partners to ensure they can maintain operations in the weeks ahead.

TechTown launches emergency fund for Detroit small businesses

From TechTown: TechTown is launching the Detroit Small Business Stabilization Fund to support the needs of small businesses impacted by COVID-19. In an effort to accelerate access to capital for Detroit’s most vulnerable businesses, TechTown — in partnership with the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), and Invest Detroit — will administer working capital grants in amounts of up to $5,000 to qualifying small businesses.

There's an unlikely beneficiary of coronavirus: The planet

From CNN: Factories were shuttered and streets were cleared across China's Hubei province as authorities ordered residents to stay home to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

It seems the lockdown had an unintended benefit -- blue skies.

The average number of "good quality air days" increased 21.5% in February, compared to the same period last year, according to China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

And Hubei wasn't alone.

Corona Is Slowing Down, Humanity Will Survive, Says Biophysicist Michael Levitt

From Calcalis Tech: Nobel laureate and Stanford professor Michael Levitt unexpectedly became a reassuring figure in China at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. Now he assures Israelis: statistics show the virus is on a downturn

Government official: Coronavirus vaccine trial starts Monday

From The Detroit News: The first participant in a clinical trial for a vaccine to protect against the new coronavirus will receive an experimental dose on Monday, according to a government official.

Coronavirus sparks an epidemic of people helping people in Seattle

From The Seattle Times: In my last column I wrote that the novel coronavirus outbreak showed us the gaps in our social safety net and the systems that we urgently need to fix.

But what this crisis has also exposed in the past week is the way in which people, guided by their hearts, are stepping up to support each other in extraordinary ways.

Dollar General stores, others set specific hours for older shoppers for their protection

From Fox News: Stores around the U.S. and the globe are taking extra steps to help protect the elderly population, which is considered the most vulnerable to the novel coronavirus.

Their efforts come as President Donald Trump urged all older Americans to stay home during a set of sweeping guidelines on Monday.

Dollar General stores throughout the states announced plans to dedicate the first hour of each shopping day to senior shoppers, starting on Tuesday.

Athletes, Teams Pledging to Pay Arena Employees During Coronavirus Shutdown

From Sports Illustrated: Athletes and teams are helping out-of-work arena employees continue to get paid as the coronavirus spread disrupts the sports calendar. 

Shortly after the NBA suspended play last Wednesday, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban helped start the initiative when he said he would set up a payment plan for his arena's hourly workers. Many others have followed Cuban's lead and shown that even during hard times the sports community sticks together.

How utility, phone and internet companies are giving consumers a break during coronavirus pandemic

From USA Today: Many utilities, telecommunications companies and automakers are easing shutoffs and waiving late fees to accommodate consumers who might be struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Companies like Comcast, PG&E, AT&T, Hyundai and Duke Energy are among the businesses giving people a break, in one way or another.

Some companies are offering free services as COVID-19 disrupts life for students, workers, families, businesses and communities.

Country singers to perform from home for ACM special

From The AP: The Academy of Country Music had to postpone their upcoming awards show because of the spreading coronavirus, but CBS will air a new television special featuring country stars performing from their homes. The academy announced Thursday that in place of their postponed awards show on April 5, “ACM Presents: Our Country” will feature conversations and at-home acoustic performances from country artists.

Virus Revives Demand For Traditional French Soap

From The AP: Amid the rapid spread of the new coronavirus across Europe, the hallmark Marseille tradition of soap-making is enjoying a renaissance, as the French rediscover an essential local product. Serge Bruna’s grandfather entered the then-booming business in the southern port city more than a century ago. His father followed suit, although the family enterprise was requisitioned during World War II, when soap was considered an essential commodity.

Coronavirus: Formula 1 teams are to help in supply of ventilators

From The BBC: Formula 1 teams are working with government and health authorities to increase the supply of ventilators during the coronavirus crisis. Ventilators are a device used to help supply more air to patients with breathing difficulties, one of the effects of severe coronavirus symptoms.

The majority of F1 teams are aiming to work out ways to use their engineering facilities to boost production. F1 said the aim was to "provide as much help and assistance as we can".

A spokesman said: "The F1 community is engaged in discussions with all the relevant stakeholders regarding this issue and we will provide further details in due course."

Uplifting Coronavirus Posts On Social Media

Another sign life feels almost normal in Beijing: This is the first rush-hour traffic jam I’ve seen since the country started shutting down two months ago. pic.twitter.com/jvoWZPIbmU

— Stu Woo (@stuwoo) March 23, 2020

 

The adventure continues!
This morning, Edward and Annie explored Shedd’s rotunda. They are a bonded pair of rockhopper penguins, which means they are together for nesting season. Springtime is nesting season for penguins at Shedd, and this year is no different! (1/3) pic.twitter.com/VdxN3oQAfe

— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) March 16, 2020

 

 

During the quarantine, a pianist in Barcelona went to his balcony to play “My Heart Will Go On” for his neighborhood.

After he started, a sax player in the building next door joined him.

I’m here for all of this...pic.twitter.com/3utPYfDbua

— Rex Chapman (@RexChapman) March 18, 2020