Oh, oh, oh, how quickly the world changes. How odd it feels to be restricted to our homes due to the coronavirus. How easy it can be to slip into a negative state of mind as we enter a period of uncertainty. Yes, the coronavirus has cast a dim light on the future, but if we look to China, we see there is more than enough reason to stay hopeful.
Just last week, China recorded its first day with no new cases of coronavirus—prompting architecture and design studios to reopen their doors. This week, tourist attractions and stores are reopening on the mainland. And while Wuhan, the city at the epicenter of the pandemic, is still under lockdown, the Chinese government announced the lockdown will be lifted on April 8th.
Across the country, all but two of the 1,119 highway entrances and exits that were closed during the outbreak have reopened, and the temporary coronavirus hospitals that China quickly constructed in response to the outbreak are being closed.
Although China is still on high alert for a possible second wave of the virus, seeing the country slowly get in motion shows us that, yes, life will go on again. And when the world we once knew resumes again, hopefully, we can use the lessons of shared humanity that came with this period to shape the world for the better.
