Moments of humanity and gratitude are shining through the cracks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All around the world, people are finding creative ways to thank frontline workers currently battling the coronavirus, with citizens in self-isolation across Europe taking to their balconies to perform music and applaud healthcare staff.
Closer to home, Australians are expressing their gratitude to workers, including Woolworths and Coles staff, after reports of customer abuse and product stockpiling emerged last week. There have been stories of customers buying supermarket staff pizzas for dinner; 'thank you' notes being left on pharmacy counters.
People are checking in on their neighbours, calling older relatives, and offering to help the elderly, immuno-compromised, or otherwise housebound - doing letterbox drops and social media call-outs in community groups.
In Eatons Hill, Queensland, a customer left an envelope with local pharmacy staff - and inside was a note with $150 cash.
In Spain, people paid respect to health workers fighting coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic by applauding. Source: Anadolu
"Over the next few months you will be seeing customers who have lost their jobs," the note, shared on the pharmacy's Facebook page, reads.
"Please use this money to top-up or even pay outright the fee for any of your regular customers who are struggling to find money to purchase essential medicines due to unemployment."
"This has really touched our hearts today," a representative for the pharmacy wrote on social media.
"Great to see Australian community spirit is still high."
In India, the entire city of New Delhi broke into applause in a display of solidarity and recognition for those working to defeat the virus.
In Eatons Hill, a customer left a note for pharmacy workers, adding some cash to help those who might be struggling. Source: Facebook
"This was a historic moment," one social media user tweeted, sharing footage of his family clapping.
"My entire city was in great synchronisation. Thank you our doctors, Nurses, Policemen, Officials. Municipal departments. Civic workers. Cleaners. We appreciate your work and your contributions towards helping the country fight."
Over in the UK, James Mitchinson, editor of The Yorkshire Post, omitted the publication's masthead for the first time ever, dedicating the space to an article demanding more support for National Health Service (NHS) workers.
"I've sacrificed the masthead because you're facing the ultimate sacrifice. I've never done this before but then, neither have you. The Yorkshire Post stands shoulder to shoulder with NHS heroes."
In Italy, where there have been more than 5,400 coronavirus-related deaths, Cuban doctors arrived to lend a hand, receiving a hero's welcome as they disembarked their airplane.
"Thank you heroes," one Italian social media user wrote, tweeting a video of the doctors' arrival.
