There may be opportunities for the world to look at the impacts of the COVID 19 situation and find the positive.

From France 24

Air quality is picking up in countries that remain under coronavirus quarantine, experts say. But it is far too early to speak of long-term change.

Images by the US space agency NASA are clear, in February the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) fell dramatically in Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, passing from an indicator that was red/orange to blue.

NO2 is mainly produced by vehicles, industrial sites and thermal power stations.As China moves past the peak of its crisis, however, recent images by the European Space Agency (ESA) show a resurgence in NO2…

From Return to Now

Scientists have identified a chemical compound in elderberries that immediately immobilizes the flu virus.

Previous studies have already shown elderberry extract can ease flu symptoms and cut the duration of the illness in half, but a new study explains exactly how the ancient remedy works. Read the ARTICLE HERE.

The unique phytochemicals found in elderberries block the virus from entering, or even attaching to, our healthy cells, when taken preventatively during flu season.

Even if the flu has already taken hold, the compound prevents the virus from replicating, eliminating symptoms within 48 hours.

The researchers used commercially farmed elderberries which were turned into a juice serum and were applied to cells before, during and after…

We here at Backyard Bend realize there are many different stories related to COVID 19 and the development of treatments that may or may not turn out to be effective. While we remain positive that the human scientific community can meet this challenge eventually, we realize some of these developments may be overly optimistic and we all should remain vigilant and realistic about the current situation. While saying that, we also want to highlight positive developing information.

From Fox News By Martha MacCallum

Distributed Bio co-founder and CEO Dr. Jacob Glanville revealed on “The Story with Martha MacCallum” Thursday that his company’s laboratory is three to four weeks away from engineering a therapeutic antibody to combat the coronavirus.

“What my company is doing is adapting…

As of today it appears other food stores will implement similar shopping hours for seniors. This is a positive development and a way to honor those in our society who are more at risk.

From Hello Care By Jacob Neeland

Australian supermarket giant Woolworths is introducing a dedicated shopping hour that will only allow elderly and disabled people to purchase items.

Starting tomorrow (March 17) shopping between 7 am and 8 am will be exclusive to elderly and disabled people with government-issued disability and pension cards.

These actions are a direct response to the chaotic panic buying and hoarding of essential items by other greedy shoppers which has left older people struggling to get their hands on food and toiletries.…

From CNN By Paul LeBlanc

Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt has directed the National Park Service to the waive entrance fees at all national parks that remain open during the coronavirus pandemic in an effort to aid public social distancing.

“This small step makes it a little easier for the American public to enjoy the outdoors in our incredible National Parks,” Bernhardt said in a news release Wednesday.

“Our vast public lands that are overseen by the Department offer special outdoor experiences to recreate, embrace nature and implement some social distancing.”
The step comes as more than 7,500 people have been infected by the virus in the US, and at least 125 have died. In response, states are…

A very interesting look at democracy that delivers.

From Reasons To Be Cheerful By Will Doig

Taiwan has built a pragmatic, solutions-oriented society where democracy is expected to deliver results. Amid the pandemic, it’s paying off.

At a cafe in Taipei, a surgical-masked waitress brought a young man a menu and a glass of water, then took a no-contact thermometer from her apron and scanned his forehead. With no fever detected, he settled in and she gave him time to consider his order.

This is everyday life in Taiwan now, a country that has been priming itself for this kind of scenario for years. Read the ARTICLE HERE. 

As COVID-19 has traversed the globe, each afflicted country has formulated…

Good Morning Backyard Bend. This week of March 16, we all face the continued unfolding Coronavirus outbreak. This serious situation is something we all face together and will get through together. Staying positive while being realistic and doing the right thing for each other is something we know our community will do.

From Medium.com By Richard Hobday

Fresh air, sunlight and improvised face masks seemed to work a century ago; and they might help us now.

When new, virulent diseases emerge, such SARS and Covid-19, the race begins to find new vaccines and treatments for those affected. As the current crisis unfolds, governments are enforcing quarantine and isolation, and public gatherings are being discouraged. Health officials took the same approach…

Backyard Bend is a community of Dog lovers and we know the friendship, loyalty and support they provide for us. These stories will give you lift today.

From The Adventure Lifestyle Network

Mankind has always had a close affinity with its canine friends, one that goes back thousands of years. While we all enjoy the companionship and unquestioning loyalty that our dogs give, there are some that are genuine heroes in every sense of the word.

From the mountain rescue efforts of St Bernards, to Labradors helping the blind. To celebrate these awesome pooches, ADAPT’s guest blogger Sally Writes has discovered some of the most famous canine heroes who’ve risked their own lives for others.

When three climbers…

From KTVZ News

PORTLAND, Ore. — Pacific Power said Thursday it is temporarily suspending disconnections and late fees for non-payment for customers in Oregon, Washington and California to support the state of emergency declared in all three states in response to the COVID-19 virus.

The company said it “will continue to evaluate other ways to support our customers for the duration of this quickly evolving public health emergency.”

“Pacific Power wants customers to know we are ready around the clock to answer any questions about your electrical service and help any customers who are having difficulty paying their electrical bills,” the statement said. “The company’s focus continues to be on maintaining the reliability of our service and the safety of…

From the New York Post By Jackie Salo

A 100-year-old Chinese man has fully recovered from the coronavirus, making him the oldest known patient to pull through the deadly illness, state media reported.

The centenarian patient, who marked his milestone birthday last month, was discharged Saturday from a hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.

He was admitted to Hubei’s Maternity and Child Health Care hospital on Feb. 24 with the coronavirus infection, the report said.

The man suffered from underlying health issues such as Alzheimer’s disease, hypertension and heart failure, the outlet said.

He was treated using antiviral medication, convalescent plasma therapy and traditional Chinese medicine, according to the report. The elderly man was then cleared along with…