Better Days Are Ahead

4 | LLA Mirror Since March 13, the day Loma Linda Academy announced off-campus learning, the total cases of COVID-19 around the world has increased to 2,078,605 million, and 139,515 confirmed deaths and 213 countries/territories as of April 17, 2020 as stated in the World Health Organization website. Every day the numbers of confirmed cases steadily increase. Several countries’ government officials have announced nation- or citywide lockdowns. Flights are canceled. Travels are banned. Borders are closed. With the various ways by which COVID-19 spreads and no known cure, people are constantly living in fear and anxiety. The pandemic is getting worse. However, amidst the pain, terror, and chaos, there still are silver linings to look for. They might not be much, but they are certainly here to bring hope to people. More importantly, they seem to be God’s way of telling the world, “Don’t worry. I will get you through this.” According to Harvard Health Publishing, most people with COVID-19 recover. While the number of deaths is increasing rapidly around the world, the death rate is less than 1%, compared to MERS (about 34%), SARS (about 11%), or Ebola (90%). As shown in the data presented by Worldometer, 95% of the active cases are in mild condition, versus 5% that are in serious or critical conditions.

In China and South Korea, the number of daily new cases is falling or being contained. The graphs showing active cases in these two countries are no longer showing exponential growth but are now following a steady downward trend, says Harvard Health Publishing. Testing for COVID-19 is quickly improving. According to CNET, researchers at Johns Hopkins University are working on a screening test that could analyze hundreds of people in a day and shorten the time needed to get back the test results. Due to a reduction in manufacturing and vehicle traffic, a decrease in emission of carbon dioxide and a reduction in air pollution has occurred in some of the countries that have been under lockdowns, CNET says. Moreover, according to CNN, Venice’s canal water has become clearer because boat traffic has significantly decreased. As people stay away from work and many businesses close their doors temporarily, countries’ governments have pledged to support citizens and businesses with subsidies, loans, suspensions of tax and rent, and other measures, as reported by CNET. For example, Australia is distributing a one-time payment of AU$750 (around $445) to all citizens on a lower income, and offering loans to small and medium-sized businesses. Italy has promised help for families and one-off 500 euro payments to self-employed people. In times of crisis, people have come together to supBy Linlin Liu SOCIAL DISTANCING CANNOT STOP PEOPLE

FROM ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER.