Covid-19 Virus Spurs Social Media Outpouring of Relief

As the United States begins its national response to the Covid-19 outbreak with travel bans, school closures, public event cancellations, and as companies organize telework for their employees and closures; people are turning to social media meetups to reach out to those in need.

Many local communities and cities, particularly in California, are using social media, such as Facebook, to reach out to the vulnerable – the elderly, the homebound, the disabled, and low income people – with offers to assist with grocery shopping and with resources to obtain food and supplies within their local communities.

Not only has social media outreach been an important part of the relief effort, it has also created an awareness of opportunities for sequestered people to get involved and to get relief from the anxiety that many are experiencing while grappling with the Covid-19 outbreak and its effect on the economy.

Concerned Americans are making efforts to provide support for those with limited financial resources and, in some cases, without transportation. Due to the school closures, many have also expressed concerns about the need for safe childcare as parents continue to work in the midst of the outbreak and the need for more testing kits arises as they become available.

More importantly, social media has become a refuge for people to voice their concerns and to stay connected as information about containing the coronavirus is developing and additional safety measures are put in into place.

In the meantime, it’s important to remain proactive, to find projects to keep busy, to remain healthy by getting extra rest and extra nutrition, and to remain hopeful that the health crisis will end soon.