Coronavirus: Signs of hope from China as new cases fall – Angus Robertson

Amid the worry about coronavirus, there are hopeful signs in the kindness shown by some and in reports from Wuhan in China, writes Angus Robertson.

Cristiano Ronaldo is doing his bit to help tackle the coronavirus. Picture: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Wall-to-wall media coverage about the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak is enough to to scare everyone about the risks we all face.

Look a bit closer, however, and there are some tremendously inspiring stories which should touch everyone. In Scotland there has been the kind-hearted Falkirk shopkeepers Asiyah and Jawad Javed, who have been handing out free packs to OAPs to combat coronavirus, with facemasks, hand gel and cleaning wipes.

In Portugal, football star Cristiano Ronaldo has transferred his CR7 hotel chain over for medical use and is paying for doctors and health workers to staff the facilities. Meanwhile, in Italy and elsewhere, videos have gone viral of people in self-isolation singing and playing music on their balconies to keep spirits up.

Coronavirus is a serious health challenge that will sadly cause many people to lose their lives. All of us will have to follow the public health advice that comes our way in the days ahead. Trying to keep a positive mindset and generosity of spirit will be key.

Recent reports from Wuhan in China, where the outbreak started, has shown that new cases being reported are down to single digits and the rest of the country saw no new locally-transmitted infections.

This shows that with the appropriate action it is possible to reduce the impact of the deadly virus.