In the –so far– second country in Europe and the third one in the world with the most infections from the coronavirus, in the midst of a state of alarm decreed by the government for 15 days, which limits circulation to a minimum and which is probably extendable, solidarity and a sense of community have sprung up. Neighbors organize themselves to take care of each other, especially the elderly and people at risk; they accompany each other on the balconies; we are now looking where we don’t usually pay attention: besides all the health personnel, we are realizing the presence of the cleaning personnel, the ones who stack the shelves and the cashiers in the supermarkets, the transporters, the people who are all alone, at home or in the streets. All the dogs from a shelter in Salamanca were fostered.
We are all mobilized in reciprocal help and companion.
Bienvenidos. Ante la emergencia sanitaria que estamos viviendo por el CODVID19, hemos creado este perfil en el que podéis ofrecer vuestros servicios voluntarios y vuestras demandas.
Os recordamos que esta cuenta únicamente funciona como mero conector, no somos agencia, no somos— voluntarios CODVID (@VCodvid) March 12, 2020
On the other hand, some businesses and professionals are joining the wave of solidarity. Here are some of their initiatives.
Restaurants
Some restaurants in Madrid (which are obliged to be closed) – the most affected autonomous community in Spain by the virus – offer free lunch and dinner to the health personnel of the reference hospitals Ramón y Cajal, Clínico San Carlos, Gregorio Marañón, 12 de Octubre, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universitario La Paz and Niño Jesús.
It all began on March 13 with a message from whatsapp sent by the Grosso Napolitano restoration group. Tierra Burrito, Manolo Bakes, Honest Greens, Tasty Poke Bar, Malvón, Brunch Club Café, The Food Circle, La Miguiña Bakery, Bizzo Pizza and Pic & Nic joined the initiative, which ended up being called Food4heroes.
The exchange continues through whatsapp groups, to order food and agree on delivery times. The transporters leave the food at the door of the hospitals.
Taxi drivers
A few days ago, several taxi drivers from Madrid offered to take doctors and health personnel free of charge.
Now more of them and owners of authorized private vehicles with VTC licenses (Cabify, for example) reached an agreement with the Community of Madrid to do so on a larger scale, and to take the doctors and other personnel to the homes of people infected by the coronavirus.
Madrid’s taxi federations organized themselves so that taxi drivers could help voluntarily when they consider it, and Cabify offered 400 vehicles for these transportations.
Madrid businesses are now selling to enjoy “Cuando Volvamos”
The company Igeneris created a platform to help maintain liquidity of bars, restaurants and other small businesses that are closed due to the crisis and the state of alarm. They invite businesses that cannot sell online to offer their products with discounts on this page, so that customers can buy them now to enjoy them when the situation improves and the stores reopen.
In addition to bars and restaurants, so far the platform includes shops for beauty care, clothing, dentistry, language courses and holiday camps.
For those who telework
The technicians of the PC Componentes computer company are offering free remote assistance for those who are working from home because of the emergency, for all types of computer incidents. On the page one can select the day and time when the technician will be able to assist you.
Remote and home classrooms
The publishing group Planeta opened its educational platform aulaPlaneta so that teachers of the fifth and sixth grades of primary education and the four years of ESO (compulsory secondary education) can be supported for free in keeping the flow of classes up to date via the Internet for their students confined at home. The platform, says its web page, has “all the curricular resources” of those education levels, “with contents adapted to each of the courses”.