COVID-19, Part I: Digital Innovations in Response to the Pandemic

There’s so much negativity surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic. And rightly so, there are people suffering severe symptoms, and in some cases, dying at the hands of the virus. While we’re doing our part to mitigate the spread, I think it’s warranted to step back and look at the advantages of this morose situation and what digital innovations it can bring. Take a stroll along with me while we attempt to stop and smell the auspicious roses.

This is the first of many articles we’ll be publishing over the next few weeks pertaining to COVID-19 and its impact on the tech industry and the world-at-large. Be sure to follow us on Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) so you never miss a thing!

Unity and Digital Innovations In a Time of Need

Your faith in humanity may, or may not have been positive prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. Either way, I’m willing to bet stories like these have your spirits on the rise! It’s been really amazing and uplifting to see so many people come together and lend a hand.

• The life of a truck driver has never been glamorous but in the wake of COVID-19, they struggled more than ever to obtain necessities such as finding time to eat or restrooms available on their stops. The #ThankATrucker movement started as a way to say thank you to these front-line heroes and included everything from free lunch, coffee, and/or sanitizer to community-purchased portable restrooms. Others have taken it upon themselves to raise funds and provide hot meals to truckers on their stops.

• In times like these sometimes it’s the simple gestures that make the greatest impact. That was certainly the case for garbage collector Scott Atkins when he encountered hand-drawn ‘Thank You’ signs on the trash cans of a home on his route March 25th.

• A grateful mom shared on Twitter how her neighborhood put together a surprise welcome home parade for her daughter Coco as she drove home from her last round of chemo.

• Many people across the world have chosen to cancel major life events, such as their wedding, due to Coronavirus. One couple from East Yorkshire in the UK took this as an opportunity to take the meals intended for their wedding guests and share them with over 400 healthcare workers instead.

• People all around Europe and the US, took to their windows, balconies, and gardens to cheer and clap for the health workers as their shifts changed: NYC, Italy, UK.

• Neighborhoods around the country have realized there’s very little in the way of fun for the children in their community. As a result, neighbors are placing stuffed animals in their windows for kiddos to admire on their walks while others are painting rocks and distributing them around their cities in the hopes of making one another smile.

Stars Rising To the Occasion

You may think celebrities already get their fair share of attention, but these, in particular, deserve a nod for their efforts in response to COVID-19. 

• Many celebrities have donated to America’s Food Fund or other various charities.

• Lady Gaga and her team organized a World Health Organization benefit concert as well as helped the Global Citizen foundation raise over $35 million towards providing protective equipment healthcare workers. 

• Jay-Z and Meek Mill teamed up to donate 100,000 surgical masks to inmates in prisons and jails across the country.

• These Latino stars are spreading knowledge:

“Eva Longoria, Danny Trejo and more latinx stars are participating in the #AyudaEnEspanol challenge to spread awareness for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) campaign. LULAC and Hornitos tequila have joined forces to provide the Spanish-speaking community with a Spanish-language resource kit, which includes information and assistance on applying for government benefits, the latest CDC and government updates, help for seniors, access to health services, guidance on applying for government benefits, job training and help tackling food insecurity.”

• Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Hart, and many more are joining the all-in-challenge, offering up their time and unique prizes in an effort to raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts.  

• Kylie Jenner used her cosmetic industry connections to partner with Coty to provide free sanitizer to healthcare workers. 

• CardiB partnered with Fashion Nova Cares April 8th which will give away $1,000 to individuals in need now through May 20th. 

• Miley Cyrus and her boyfriend, Cody Simpson, hand-delivered 120 tacos to healthcare workers at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, California on April 4.

• If you’re running out of ideas to keep your children intellectually stimulated, the ‘Saves with Stories’ initiative has you covered. Names such as Dolly Parton, Jennifer Garner, Amy Adams, Josh Gad, Gal Gadot, and many more are taking to social media to video them reading their favorite children’s books aloud. 

• Like Mission Data, John Krasinski wants to spread positivity during these times, which led to him creating his own YouTube channel dedicated to just that. 

• Post Malone and friends (including Travis Barker of Blink-182) livestreamed a Nirvana tribute on April 24th. Able and willing fans were asked to give a donation, all proceeds going to the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 response fund. Google matched contributions 2:1 resulting in a few million dollars raised.

For more examples of humanity at it’s best, check out John Krasinski’s #SomeGoodNews tweets or Elle’s 57 Positive News Stories You May Have Missed During The Coronavirus Outbreaks.

Renowned Corporations Are Stepping Up To the Plate

• Distilleries across the country are using high-proof alcohol to produce hand sanitizer and distributing it for free. This includes a Louisville-based company and one of Mission Data’s beloved clients. Way to go Sazerac!  

• Big-name manufacturers and tech conglomerates pause to increase ventilator and mask supplies: Ford joins Tesla and GM in helping with ventilator and mask supply.

• According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Facebook has donated over 720,000 masks and 1.5 million pairs of gloves to medical centers in California. They’ve also donated $650,000 worth of food to senior citizens and helped fund 2,000 WiFi hotspots and/or WiFi to low-income students.  

• Alcohol distributors around the country are organizing some version of ‘virtual tipping’
  • Online magazine, Punch, has launched a daily virtual happy hour where out-of-work mixologists share drink recipes. Bacardi is matching every dollar tipped and donating proceeds to the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation (RWCF). 
  • Ryan Reynolds’ Aviation Gin launched the #TipYourBartenders campaign which will donate 30% of all sales in April to the United States Bartender’s Guild (USBG) Foundation.
  • Sazerac’s Fireball Whiskey started the “World’s Biggest Tip Jar” GoFundMe campaign with a $100,000 contribution. The whiskey brand will be matching donations up to an additional $400,000 and donating proceeds to the Bartender Relief Fund. 

Environmental Impact of COVID-19

It’s rare these days that you hear something that’s positively impacting the environment, but that’s exactly what seems to be happening with COVID-19.  

• The quarantine in China resulted in a 25% decline in CO2 emissions compared to this time last year.

• Obviously, a reduction in manufacturing and vehicle traffic would reduce pollution, and satellite imagery over countries where traffic has been limited proves it.

• We’re seeing a drastic decrease in major greenhouse gases over Europe.

• According to Manyofmany.com, dolphins and Swans Appear in Venice Canals again:

“With the country under intense lockdown restrictions, Italy’s famous floating city, Venice had a chance to recover from the years of pollution and debris left behind by tourists. The canals cleared up and few friendly creatures returned to say G’day. Swans and dolphins were filmed frolicking in the now pristine waters.”

For examples of comforting data and statistics, take a gander at Times Union’s recent article Stay positive: Here are 23 pieces of good news regarding coronavirus or Harvard Health’s Is there any good news about the coronavirus pandemic?

There’s more to come in the next few weeks. In the meantime, stay safe out there!