Writing from the new epicenter of Coronavirus, Madrid.
By Miguel Garzón, myGwork
When news from China showed the reality of Wuhan, it seemed like something far away, similar to a film you’d watch on Netflix. Later, the north of Italy was affected, but although it was closer, it still didn’t seem real. Now our everyday lives have turned quickly into this new reality.
IFEMA, usually a large conference centre for events, has been filled with beds and turned into a makeshift hospital for the growing number of coronavirus patients. Our main streets are empty, even at peak hours. Everybody is at home and the whole country is on lockdown, similar to what is unfolding in the UK this week. These events developed fast; our reality ever-changing. The number of people affected by the virus is constantly increasing, like a curve with a sharp increase.
IFEMA, Madrid
In among the bad news, we have seen stories of inspiration and creativity form leaders. People from different cities across the country are clapping from their balconies to honor medical stuff, every day at 8 PM. Cristina Marin, living next door to my flat, is a surgeon from the public health system. She has launched an uplifting initiative that resulted in thousands of people writing letters to patients in hospitals, giving support and friendship.
One of these fantastic and witty initiatives is coming from Trivu, a global ecosystem for talent with young´s attitude. They have created “creativirus”, gathering optimistic news, and “Positive Window” giving good vibes to employees that are working from their homes and connecting these employees with their companies.
Pablo González, Trivu´s CEO, claims “Our aim is to maintain a positive mindset, it is easy to be in despair when people are at their homes and cities are lockdown. But we should maintain our activities, as much as possible, and even more important, we should be ready to respond to upcoming challenges. After coronavirus, the landscape will be completely different, this period should bring more innovation and digital connection”.
This has shown just how fragile our everyday lives were, how the force of nature can come in and change everything. Despite all this, even with these surreal events, a new routine takes hold of our lives. People are adjusting to a new normal, with most now working from home. New routines are being put in place; gym activities in our living rooms, Netflix becoming one of our best friends and even grabbing beers with friends via FaceTime.
I had a call with Sergio Sayas for this article. He is a representative in the Spanish parliament and a member of the National Health Commission. He wanted to share a couple of statements with us.
“Every step that different governments are giving these days, are key to save lives and a prevention to worse landscape. But any government, institution or health-care system could be a solution, this solution is into the hands of people. Stay at home, is definitely, the only one way to stop Coronavirus”.
The striking paradox, we are not in contact and everyone remains at their own homes, yet at the same time, we are walking together, we will fight together as a country and as a global family.
A big hug for the myGwork community.
Miguel Garzón
myGwork Spain
