Some positive updates about COVID-19

If you’re like me, you’ve probably been spending a lot of time watching the news or keeping up to date on social media these days.

And some of the news is pretty scary, isn't it?

Of course, it's normal to be scared when your future is a little uncertain.

Your financial future, your job future and, more importantly, the future of your health.

However, it's important to remember that it's not all scary news out there.

As we collectively wrap our heads around the enormity of the situation we’ll be facing for the next few weeks or months, it’s vitally important for us to remember that:

This too shall pass.

No one is suggesting that this is going to be a long-term issue for world health or for our economy.

Of course we don't really know what's going to happen, but as we work our way through these difficult times they will clearly have a negative impact on our economy.

But it's important to realise that our government is hellbent on getting us all through this.

The government's substantial economic stimulus package is unlikely to avert a recession, but it is likely to mean that we will bounce back quickly.

At the same time it's important to remember...

There’s a lot of good news out there, too.

Communities are coming together like never before.

Neighbours are helping each other and looking after the vulnerable individuals in our community.

And people are sharing moments of gratitude and connectedness.

So if you find yourself being overwhelmed by all of the negative news, look for the good!

There have been many positive developments in the past week that offer hope and proof that we will survive this experience and come through it stronger than ever.

Here are just a few of the stories I’ve seen lately:

• China closed down its last coronavirus hospital this week because the number of new cases has fallen so low
• Of 80,000 people sick from COVID-19 in China, more than 70% have recovered and been discharged from hospitals
• Doctors in India, France, and the US have been successfully treating COVID-19 with a combination of anti-malarial and other drugs
• Cleveland Clinic developed a COVID-19 test that gives results in hours, not days.
• Researchers of the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam claim to have found an antibody against COVID-19
• A 103-year-old Chinese grandmother has made a full recovery from COVID-19 after being treated for 6 days in Wuhan, China
• Apple has reopened all 42 of its stores in China
• Scientists in Israel are expected to announce the development of a coronavirus vaccine
• In South Korea, recoveries are beginning to outnumber new cases of infection
• A Japanese flu drug has proven effective at treating COVID-19
• Hyrdochloriquine appears to be effective in killing the virus and is already mass produced.  We are likely to have confirmation of this being effective in the coming weeks.
• There are about 20 vaccines being worked on and some will work, but they will not be readily available for 12-18 months.
• Italy is hit hard, experts say, only because they have the oldest population in Europe.

Also...

Air Pollution Plummets in Cities With High Rates of Quarantine

Satellite readings of air pollution levels over China and Italy show that the regions hit hardest by the COVID-19 have also caused air pollution levels to decline dramatically.

Some reports estimate that China’s quarantine has saved more than 100 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere—which is about the equivalent of what Chile produces in a year.

Not only have similar effects been reported across Italy, the canals and waterways of Venice are reportedly cleaner than ever with the waters shining crystal clear in the absence of diesel-powered boats and gondoliers.

Johns Hopkins Researcher Says That Antibodies From Recovered COVID Patients Could Help Protect People At Risk

The vaccine being tested in Seattle isn’t the only potential treatment for the disease—an immunologist from Johns Hopkins University is reviving a century-old blood-derived treatment for use in the United States in hopes of slowing the spread of the disease.

The technique uses antibodies from the blood plasma or serum of people who have recovered from COVID-19 infection to boost the immunity of newly-infected patients and those at risk of contracting the disease.

Australian Researchers Testing Two Drugs as Potential ‘Cures’ for the Virus

At the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, scientists have found that two different medications—both of which are registered and available in Australia—have completely wiped out traces of the disease in test tubes.

Not only that, the drugs were given to some of the nation’s first COVID-19 patients, which resulted in “disappearance of the virus and complete recovery from the infection,” researchers told News.com.au.

The university is now looking to conduct a nationwide trial with the drugs to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of each drug administered separately and together.

US Researchers Deliver First COVID-19 Vaccine to Volunteers in Experimental Test Program

Scientists at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute in Seattle delivered the first rounds of a potential coronavirus vaccine to several dozen optimistic volunteers earlier this week.

One 43-year-old vaccine recipient is Jennifer Haller, who is a mother to two teenagers.

She was all smiles afterward, telling AP reporters she was “feeling great” as she was leaving the clinic.

“This is an amazing opportunity for me to do something,” she added.

South Korean Outbreak Finally Abating as Recoveries Outnumber New Infections for Three Days in a Row

According to Reuters, South Korea recorded more COVID-19 recovery cases on March 6th than new infections for the first time since the nation experienced the largest Asian outbreak outside of China.

Since the novel coronavirus outbreak was first reported in South Korea back in January, the nation reached a peak of 909 new infections on February 29th.

Now, however, Reuters reports that the declining rate of infection has continued to fall with less than 100 new cases reported for several days in a row.

A bold Australian call for peak infection...

Chris Joye, the founder of Coolabah Capital Investments and one of the economists I really respect  has turned his market research team into full-time infection rate watchers worldwide.

They have made two bold calls on the peaking of the virus and the eventual flattening and then dropping of the infection and death curves! This is what they said:

 “Australia's peak new infection numbers are realised between April 4 and April 11 assuming it is 50% as effective at containment as South Korea and 75% as effective as Italy (see second screenshot).

If Australia is only half as good as Italy at containment, the peak in new infections is observed around April 20.

Interestingly, Australia's infection rate and, in particular, its fatality rate are tracking better than North Atlantic nations with Australia's fatality rate sitting somewhere between South Korea and Japan.

… These are just some of the “good news” stories that are coming out every day.

That’s what we need to remember!

All over the country and the world, people are stepping up to meet this challenge.

We have the smartest people in the world working on this and there are amazing developments happening every day.

Together we will get through this and be stronger and more resilient than ever before.

This too shall pass.

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About Michael Yardney Michael is the founder of Metropole Property Strategists who help their clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He's once again been voted Australia's leading property investment adviser and one of Australia's 50 most influential Thought Leaders. His opinions are regularly featured in the media.