Top 10 Positive Outcomes of the COVID-19 Lockdown

There is no denying that 2020 was a horrible year. From Windows 7 losing support, to the Australian bushfires, Kobe Bryant's sudden death, a mass shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, a 6.7 earthquake in Turkey, and the biggest stock market plunge in over 30 years, the year was filled with tragedies. On top of all this, the COVID-19 pandemic (commonly referred to as the coronavirus) caused a global crisis.

As a result of the pandemic, almost everything was shut down. Schools transitioned to online learning, Disney parks closed, the NBA season was suspended, many recreational parks were shut down, and so much more. While this was considered overwhelmingly negative, leaving many people feeling trapped in their homes and contributing to the stock market plunge, it also created positive outcomes that are often overlooked.

Many of the events and benefits discussed in this list may not have occurred without the lockdown. These items are not listed in any particular order, so feel free to rearrange and vote on them if you think some should be ranked higher or lower.

Although many view this as a challenging period, I believe it's time to focus on the positives.

The Top Ten

  1. Air quality has improved

    This and the second item are the only things I could call positive, but even those items don't outweigh the negativity of the coronavirus and the media.

    True, especially in China. No factories are open, so no more carbon dioxide in the air. Yay for air quality!

    In many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, pollution levels have been reported to be low at all of their sites.

  2. It allows introverts to stay in without being judged as easily

    According to Introvert, Dear, about 40% of the US population is introverted. Many introverts prefer staying in over going to a party or other event, and they often get judged for it. With the lockdown, introverts will not feel as much pressure to go to such parties or events as they have been canceled.

    I am personally an extrovert, but I understand that there are people who prefer being alone over being with a crowd of people at a party.

    Interesting, never realized that actually. I'm an introvert anyway, so I agree with this.

  3. Students who have been bullied at school were able to get a break from the bullying

    Each day, over 160,000 students in the United States alone stay home from school due to fears of being bullied, according to ABC News. As a result of the lockdown, those 160,000 students have had the chance to stay home as schools are closed.

    Well, teachers don't do anything about bullying.

  4. The Oakland Zoo launched a "Behind the Scenes Live" platform that allows subscribers to direct message questions and get immediate responses

  5. There have been balcony sing-alongs that lift spirits

    To find a way to connect with others (especially in Europe and Montreal), people sang songs from their balconies. That helped lift positivity and spirits.

  6. More respect has been given to professionals such as doctors

    As a result of the pandemic, doctors have been working really hard. Many people recognize this. A hospital in Santa Rosa, California, has been showered with flowers by a group of women to show their admiration for the doctors' hard work.

    Can we please continue this amazing display of respect after the pandemic as well?

  7. Entertaining and relatable memes were created as a result

    Memes have been pretty funny as of late since people are going stir-crazy. Before quarantine, memes were not very funny. Now that we are in quarantine, they have been hilarious.

  8. Traffic has decreased

    In many places where traffic is normally heavy (SF Bay Area, Los Angeles, etc.), highways are nearly empty. This allows the few people who need to be out on the roads to get to their destinations sooner.

  9. Home office furniture sales have increased

  10. There have been fewer mass murders

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    There have been far fewer cases of the seasonal flu

  12. ?

    People can have their personal space

    Yeah, I like having my own personal space.

    13. The Contenders

  13. We discover new skills and interests we never thought we had or liked

    Yeah, if it wasn't for lockdown, I probably wouldn't have discovered I like YouTube animation such as Somethingelseyt and Let Me Explain Studios.

  14. We're becoming more grateful for the things we have

  15. There is more free time

    I can play more Fortnite and get a break from school.

  16. We are seeing the better side of people

  17. Animals are coming back

  18. No school

    Yay, this is on here because I hate school! (But sadly, I have to go there in 2 minutes.)

  19. Jehovah's Witnesses are not going door to door

  20. You don't have to spend as much money on a birthday

  21. Grocery sales have skyrocketed

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