This post is not really related to ancient medicine but dedicated to the medical professionals that have been working to keep their fellow humans healthy through the ages. People around the world are being urged to practice social distancing and shelter-in-place to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. About 4 billion people- half the world’s population- are currently under a lockdown of some sort, with many schools, offices, restaurants, and stores closed. Most people are leaving their homes only for essential tasks such as grocery or medicine shopping. In the midst of this unprecedented situation, some people have to go about their work every day, putting everything on the line. They are the healthcare workers, emergency services, police and armed services, pharmacists, and all those who are out there working on the front line of fighting the COVID-19 outbreak.
We owe these essential workers a great deal, and I think we should take every opportunity to recognize and thank the medical professionals that are risking their own lives and working tirelessly through the pandemic. Today's Google Doodle is a tribute to doctors, nurses and medical workers - it will run a series thanking different coronavirus helpers for an entire week- which got me thinking about the wider social response to doctors and nurses, so I decided to write a post dedicated to it.
Last Friday, April 3, Bostonians (including me) took part in a campaign spread by social media with the hashtag #ClapBecauseWeCare to show their appreciation to the frontline workers. It was great to participate in. The event will be repeated every Friday at 7 pm until the crisis is over.
It was certainly not the first event of its kind. I first heard about people in Europe coming to their balconies in the evening and clapping to show their support for the doctors and nurses back in March. Most of it was spontaneous, as people who were locked indoors all day came out to get some fresh air and chat with their neighbors and they started to sing. They decided to jointly clap for the people on the frontline, and the sentiment was so powerful that it caught on and spread like wildfire around the world. I am not entirely sure where it first started, but it might have been in Italy, from where it then could have spread to other neighboring countries like Spain, Switzerland, Greece, and Portugal. It has become a daily occurrence in Italy and Spain for people to show up on their balconies to sing songs and play instruments every night in mass social gatherings while maintaining social distancing, of course. It has now been done in countries as far as Brazil, Israel, and New Zealand.
While most of these were uncoordinated, it looks like the first organized event might have been in France on March 17, when people in Paris started urging people on social media with #OnApplaudit ("We Applaud" in French) to show their gratitude to doctors and nurses. But the biggest campaign, at a national level was in India, when the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, asked all Indians to join together in a show of solidarity with the healthcare workers. In a speech to the nation, he said, “March 22 will be a symbol of our effort, of our self-restraint and our resolve to fulfill our duty in service of the nation. We will clap our hands, beat our plates, ring our bells to boost their morale and salute their service.” With the hashtag #TaaliBajao ("Clap your hands" in Hindi) trending online, millions of people gathered outside on that Sunday to clap hands, ring bells, blow conch shells and cheer together. The video I got from my cousin (which I can't post here for some reason) was amazing! While it was a powerful show of appreciation, it wasn't particularly helpful in the cause of social distancing as you can see in the picture - Mumbai has one of the world's highest population with 20 million people!😅
The event was so popular that the PM asked Indians to participate in a second event on April 5 to light lamps, candles, and flashlights in a show of unity and solidarity in the fight against the pandemic. This time medical staff also participated to show solidarity with people affected by the coronavirus.
Following that, people in the U.K. also started a campaign called “Clap for Our Carers”. The weekly clapping event started on March 26 and was so popular that it has been continued every Thursday at 8 pm local time. People gather on their doorsteps, balconies and gardens to pay tribute by clapping and cheering. Some people even play the bagpipe and children bang pots and pans and ring handbells. It seems that even the British Royal family got in on the action.
Cities across the world are also following in these footsteps to give thanks to frontline workers in the coronavirus pandemic. On March 27, the Eiffel Tower displayed a simple but powerful “Merci” as other signs showed up across the world conveying similar messages.
Many city landmarks are also turning blue at night to show appreciation to health care and essential workers. The color blue represents the scrubs worn by medical workers. Below New York City’s One World Trade Center is lit up in red, white and blue, while the Wembley stadium and London Eye have blue lights. The entire city of Vancouver will light up all landmark buildings in blue every night in April 2020.
As many of us sit at home lazing around on our phones or watching TV (and baking, as in my case), it is important to remember that these heroes are out there working tirelessly to make sure we are safe and healthy in this crazy time. So let's all put away our phones and join our friends and neighbors in showing our support and gratitude for them next Friday at 7 pm in Massachusetts.
We owe these essential workers a great deal, and I think we should take every opportunity to recognize and thank the medical professionals that are risking their own lives and working tirelessly through the pandemic. Today's Google Doodle is a tribute to doctors, nurses and medical workers - it will run a series thanking different coronavirus helpers for an entire week- which got me thinking about the wider social response to doctors and nurses, so I decided to write a post dedicated to it.
 |
| Google's Doodle on April 7, 2020 |
Last Friday, April 3, Bostonians (including me) took part in a campaign spread by social media with the hashtag #ClapBecauseWeCare to show their appreciation to the frontline workers. It was great to participate in. The event will be repeated every Friday at 7 pm until the crisis is over.
 |
Boston campaign to show appreciation. Image: Twitter
|
It was certainly not the first event of its kind. I first heard about people in Europe coming to their balconies in the evening and clapping to show their support for the doctors and nurses back in March. Most of it was spontaneous, as people who were locked indoors all day came out to get some fresh air and chat with their neighbors and they started to sing. They decided to jointly clap for the people on the frontline, and the sentiment was so powerful that it caught on and spread like wildfire around the world. I am not entirely sure where it first started, but it might have been in Italy, from where it then could have spread to other neighboring countries like Spain, Switzerland, Greece, and Portugal. It has become a daily occurrence in Italy and Spain for people to show up on their balconies to sing songs and play instruments every night in mass social gatherings while maintaining social distancing, of course. It has now been done in countries as far as Brazil, Israel, and New Zealand.
 |
Europeans applaud healthcare workers. Image: ITV
|
While most of these were uncoordinated, it looks like the first organized event might have been in France on March 17, when people in Paris started urging people on social media with #OnApplaudit ("We Applaud" in French) to show their gratitude to doctors and nurses. But the biggest campaign, at a national level was in India, when the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, asked all Indians to join together in a show of solidarity with the healthcare workers. In a speech to the nation, he said, “March 22 will be a symbol of our effort, of our self-restraint and our resolve to fulfill our duty in service of the nation. We will clap our hands, beat our plates, ring our bells to boost their morale and salute their service.” With the hashtag #TaaliBajao ("Clap your hands" in Hindi) trending online, millions of people gathered outside on that Sunday to clap hands, ring bells, blow conch shells and cheer together. The video I got from my cousin (which I can't post here for some reason) was amazing! While it was a powerful show of appreciation, it wasn't particularly helpful in the cause of social distancing as you can see in the picture - Mumbai has one of the world's highest population with 20 million people!😅
 |
Residents of a building in Mumbai clapping together. Image: CNN
|
The event was so popular that the PM asked Indians to participate in a second event on April 5 to light lamps, candles, and flashlights in a show of unity and solidarity in the fight against the pandemic. This time medical staff also participated to show solidarity with people affected by the coronavirus.
 |
Indian nurses and families with lamps in show of solidarity. Image: Gulf News
|
Following that, people in the U.K. also started a campaign called “Clap for Our Carers”. The weekly clapping event started on March 26 and was so popular that it has been continued every Thursday at 8 pm local time. People gather on their doorsteps, balconies and gardens to pay tribute by clapping and cheering. Some people even play the bagpipe and children bang pots and pans and ring handbells. It seems that even the British Royal family got in on the action.
 |
British Royal children clapping for NHS workers. Image: Hello Magazine
|
Cities across the world are also following in these footsteps to give thanks to frontline workers in the coronavirus pandemic. On March 27, the Eiffel Tower displayed a simple but powerful “Merci” as other signs showed up across the world conveying similar messages.
 |
Paris' Eiffel Tower. Image: Reuters
|
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Various signs around the world showing appreciation to frontline workers. Image: Reuters
|
Many city landmarks are also turning blue at night to show appreciation to health care and essential workers. The color blue represents the scrubs worn by medical workers. Below New York City’s One World Trade Center is lit up in red, white and blue, while the Wembley stadium and London Eye have blue lights. The entire city of Vancouver will light up all landmark buildings in blue every night in April 2020.
 |
One World Trade Center, Wembley Stadium, London Eye and BC Place Stadium lit up in blue lights. Image: Twitter
|
As many of us sit at home lazing around on our phones or watching TV (and baking, as in my case), it is important to remember that these heroes are out there working tirelessly to make sure we are safe and healthy in this crazy time. So let's all put away our phones and join our friends and neighbors in showing our support and gratitude for them next Friday at 7 pm in Massachusetts.
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