coronavirus clapping

In the UK in March the coronavirus had spread rapidly, the country was in lockdown and the health system was stretched to breaking point. There was also a shortage of PPE for health workers.  So the population had a deepening respect for those who cared for the people who were ill with the virus. This extended to all essential workers such as cleaners, supermarket workers, bus drivers, garbage collectors, delivery drivers, etc. The populace took to standing, at a certain time of the day, outside or on their balconies, verandahs, fire escapes or any vantage point they could legally reach, and clapping their hands, banging pots and pans, making a racket in any way available to them, to express their support for  those at the frontline of the pandemic.

 Similar events took place in India and Vancouver. Europe went into lockdown and joined the clapping.  Spain had the 8 o’clock applause every night.  New York followed in April where the same set of circumstances arose which meant that the health workers were putting their lives at risk for the sake of others.  The New Yorkers chose the 7 o’clock applause and they also did it every night.