Coronavirus in Sheffield: Seven reasons to stay positive amid pandemic

But there are lots of reasons to stay cheerful during this challenging period as Sheffield shows its mettle, and here are just a few.

1, OUR BRILLIANT NHS AND OTHER KEY WORKERS

It’s at times like this you realise just how lucky we are to have the NHS. They’re working long shifts under huge pressure while putting their own health on the line to care for us, and all they’re asking is that we stay at home to help them. It’s not a lot to ask.

The people of Sheffield displayed their gratitude when asked to clap from their windows and doors last Thursday evening, in what is now a weekly show of thanks.

And the family of Leonard Gibson, who became the first person to die in Sheffield after contracting coronavirus, had nothing but praise for the compassionate care he received.

It’s not just NHS staff who’ve risen to the challenge either. Police officers, delivery drivers, supermarket staff, bin crews and the teachers staying in school to educate other key workers’ children are just some of the people doing an amazing job in Sheffield under the most difficult circumstances.

A special mention has to go to the staff at this Sheffield care home who volunteered to live there throughout the coronavirus lockdown so they could continue to care for residents without putting their health at risk.

2, THE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

There are far too many to mention here but the sheer number of people who joined the many ‘mutual aid’ groups set up across Sheffield to help neighbours who are self-isolating and who answered the call for volunteers to support the NHS are probably the best example.

Families have also been putting rainbows in their windows to cheer up children who are out for their daily exercise, with Easter Egg hunts are bear hunts planned in some neighbourhoods to help stave off the boredom.

Residents of one street told how the crisis had brought everyone closer together than ever as neighbours help one another out with shopping, decorate their windows and unite to combat loneliness.

3, AMAZING OFFERS TO KEEP US ENTERTAINED

Staying at home to save lives might not be the biggest ask but it can get pretty boring.

Thankfully, Sheffield’s amazing creative community has stepped up to the task and started streaming live entertainment, from live gigs to workout sessions.

Most of them are free to watch, with artists recognising these are tough times financially for us all, though viewers are sometimes asked to donate what they can afford as the people keeping us entertained need to eat too.

A few examples include Sheffield artist Pete McKee’s popular cartoon drawing workshops for children, Matt Cockayne’s free artwork for people to download and colour in and the Concerteenies’ interactive concerts for babies and young children.

4, SHEFFIELD IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF EFFORTS TO BEAT THE VIRUS

Sheffielders aren’t just sitting back and waiting for this to pass, with everyone who can playing an active role in fighting the disease.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals has been praised for leading the way when it comes to testing people for COVID-19, even though this has fuelled perceptions that the city is a hotspot for the virus.

The trust is also among those trialling a new drug which it is hoped could help treat coronavirus.

The University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, where firms like Boeing, Rolls-Royce and McLaren Automotive are based, is playing a key role in efforts to produce the extra ventilators needed to treat patients.

And Sheffield schools are doing their bit to produce the protective visors needed to protect NHS staff.

5, IT’S A GOOD EXCUSE FOR A TAKEAWAY

Supermarket staff are doing an amazing job keeping us fed under incredibly challenging circumstances but Sheffield’s independent cafes, restaurants and food producers are also rising to the challenge.

While cafes and restaurants have been forced to close their doors to the public, many are still providing a takeway service, and smaller food delivery services across the city are bringing the fantastic produce Yorkshire has to offer to more customers than ever.

6, EVERYONE’S DOING THEIR BIT

Photos of usually heaving Sheffield streets resembling a ghost town are doing the rounds on social media and while they can be a depressing sight they prove we’re all doing our bit, however small, by staying at home.

There will always be exceptions where people don’t follow the life-saving government advice and orders, but police have praised the vast majority of residents for staying at home and helping to prevent the spread of the virus.

7, OTHER COUNTRIES SHOW THIS CAN BE BEATEN

While the number of cases and the death toll continues to rise rapidly on these shores, there are promising signs from further afield that if we keep doing what we’re doing we can get through this.

Life in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began, is slowly returning to normal after a lengthy lockdown which began in January.

Closer to home in Italy, while the daily death toll remains high there are encouraging signs of a slowdown in new cases which suggests things may be turning a corner.

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