Innovations, generosity will help world conquer COVID

It’s difficult to see bright spots amid the coronavirus pandemic, as infection and death rates keep rising in Massachusetts and around the world. Projections of when the outbreak will end differ, and some virologists even predict an autumn resurgence. Washington hasn’t offered much in the way of comfort as lawmakers delayed a stimulus bill for struggling Americans, duking it out over questionable add-ons.

But there are some bright spots, and they are powerful, highlighting the indelible spirit of ingenuity and generosity that has helped the world to survive harsh times and thrive beyond them.

First off, the Boston Resiliency Fund surpassed its $20 million target raising money to help families and residents affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Mayor Marty Walsh called it an “incredible testament” to the city’s character amid turmoil.

They don’t call it Boston Strong for nothing.

As the Boston Herald reported, donations poured in from than 1,800 donors since the fund launched 10 days ago in an effort to ease the economic hardship felt by tens of thousands of Bostonians who are out of work and struggling amid widespread shutdowns spurred by coronavirus restrictions.The fund will continue to accept donations, Walsh said.

Across the river, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have been working on the MIT Emergency Ventilator Project, or E-Vent, a low-cost respirator that could potentially help Covid-19 patients battling critical respiratory problems. MIT’s Technology Review reports that the device is a variation of resuscitators used by ambulance crews, and the team, which awaits FDA review, is hoping to publish open source designs.

While legions of local stitchers are crafting masks for those on the pandemic front lines, fashion designers are also stepping up to the plate, ramping up large scale production of the protective gear.

“Project Runway” winner Christian Siriano, famous for dressing A-list celebrities for the red carpet, is enlisting his sewing staff to produce face masks.

These efforts aren’t limited to the United States. Design experts in Spain and Ireland are coming up with their own coronavirus innovations, creating variations of 3D printed ventilators for emergency use. Giorgio Armani’s fashion group announced Thursday that all of its Italian production plants would start producing single-use medical overalls. And researchers around the world are working on a vaccine, as well as drug therapies to aid in recovery for coronavirus patients.

There will always be stories of price-gougers and hoarders and others who try to manipulate a crisis for personal gain. And then there are the idiot “prankers,” who deliberately cough on people and food in supermarkets.

Stuck at home with lots of time to read and watch the news and surf the web, it’s easy to fixate on the negative, the scary and the awful.

But both at home and abroad, those with the brightest minds and the biggest hearts are making incredible strides to turn the tide in this pandemic. They are all heroes, and they will see us through.