手も空も、よりきれいに　新型コロナウイルスがもたらしたもの

【東京ＡＦＰ＝時事】新型コロナウイルスのパンデミック（世界的な大流行）により、死者や経済の崩壊、ロックダウン（都市封鎖）などの悪いニュースの波が押し寄せている。しかし、目を凝らしてみると、いくつかの明るい側面に気付くかもしれない。（写真は水がきれいになった伊ベネチアの運河）
　■手を洗おう！
　新型コロナウイルスの流行当初から、医療専門家たちのメッセージは明確だった──「手を洗おう」
　著名人や政治家が正しい手の洗い方を実演し、店舗では手の消毒液が飛ぶように売れた。
　普段よりも衛生状態に気を使うようになったことは、日本などの少なくとも一部の国々で効果を発揮しているようにみえる。日本ではインフルエンザ患者数の大幅な減少傾向がみられている。
　■二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）排出量の抑制
　工場閉鎖や移動制限、需要の減退は経済崩壊を導くが、環境にとってはすべてが悪いニュースではない。
　フィンランドの研究機関「センター・フォー・リサーチ・オン・エナジー・アンド・クリーンエア」によると、３月１日までの４週間で、中国のＣＯ２排出量は前年同期比で２億トン減少した。
　汚染度の高い産業である航空業も事実上の一時停止状態にあり、短期間ではあるがＣＯ２排出量の削減を達成している。
　いつもは観光客を乗せたボートであふれかえるイタリア・ベネチアの運河の水がきれいになったことなど、他にも環境面で良い影響があった。
　しかし残念ながら専門家らは、この現象は長続きしないとみている。新型コロナウイルスの危機が終われば、各国は失った時間を取り戻そうと経済活動をさらに活発化させ、経済成長を回復させる競争の中で気候変動への関心は脇に追いやられる可能性が高いという。
　■センザンコウを救え
　新型コロナウイルスの感染源はいまだ不明だが、初期の追跡では、多様な生きた野生動物が消費目的で取引されていた中国・武漢市の市場に焦点が置かれていた。
　コウモリや絶滅が危惧されているセンザンコウを含めた多数の動物が、新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大に関わった可能性があるとみられている。
　その結果、中国は２月に野生動物の取引と消費を即時「包括的」に禁止すると発表。動物保護団体はこれを歓迎した。
　■離れ離れ、でも、より近くに
　感染拡大を遅らせることを目的とした厳しい封鎖措置による最も難しい側面の一つは、孤独だ。家族や友人たちは数週間、あるいは数か月間、離れ離れの状態に耐えることを余儀なくされている。
　一方、この状況下で共同体意識も生まれており、家族の安否確認や友人への連絡をより積極的に行っている人たちもいる。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/03/26-13:09）

Deaths, economic meltdown and a planet on lockdown: the coronavirus pandemic has brought us waves of bad news, but squint and you might just see a few bright spots.
From better hygiene that has reduced other infectious diseases to people reaching out as they self-isolate, here are some slivers of silver linings during a bleak moment.
- Wash your hands! -
The message from health professionals has been clear from the start of the outbreak: wash your hands.
Everyone from celebrities to politicians has had a go at demonstrating correct technique -- including singing Happy Birthday twice through to make sure you scrub long enough, and hand sanitiser has flown off the shelves.
All that extra hygiene appears to be paying off, at least in some countries, including Japan, where the number of flu cases appears to be sharply down.
Japan recorded 7.21 million cases by early March -- usually around the peak of the flu season that runs until May.
That was far below figures for previous years, including the 21.04 million infections seen during the 2017/18 season.
We estimate that one of the reasons behind it is that people are now much more aware about the need to wash hands... given the spread of the new coronavirus, Japanese health ministry official Daisha Inoue told AFP.
- Carbon curbs -
Factory shutdowns, travel bans and a squeeze on demand spell economic disaster, but it isn't all bad news for the environment.
In the four weeks to March 1, China's CO2 emissions fell 200 million tonnes, or 25 percent, compared to the same period last year, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
That's a decline equivalent to annual CO2 emissions from Argentina, Egypt or Vietnam.
The slowdown in China also saw coal consumption at power plants there down 36 percent, and the use of oil at refineries drop by nearly as much.
Air travel is also grinding to a virtual halt, achieving at least a short-term drop-off in emissions from a highly polluting industry.
And there have been other environmental benefits, including crystal-clear waters in Venice canals usually choked with tourist-laden boats.
Unfortunately, experts say the cleaner air may be short-lived.
Once the health crisis is over, experts expect countries will double down to try to make up for lost time, with climate change concerns likely to be sidelined in a race to recover economic growth.
- Save the pangolins -
The source of the coronavirus remains in question, but early tracking focused on a market in China's Wuhan where a variety of live wildlife was on sale for consumption.
A number of animals, including bats and the highly endangered pangolin, have been identified as possible culprits for the virus.
As a result, China in February declared an immediate and comprehensive ban on the trade and consumption of wild animals that was welcomed by environmentalists.
Beijing implemented similar measures following the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s, but the trade and consumption of wild animals, including bats and snakes, made a comeback.
This time the ban is permanent, raising hopes that it could end the local trade in wildlife.
I do think the government has seen the toll it takes on national economy and society is much bigger than the benefit that wild-eating business brings, said Jeff He, China director at the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Reports linking the virus to the pangolin have also scared off would-be consumers of the scaly mammals elsewhere, with bushmeat vendors in Gabon reporting a plunge in sales.
- Apart, together -
One of the most difficult aspects of the stringent lockdowns imposed to slow the spread of the virus has been loneliness, with families and friends forced to endure weeks or even months apart.
But some people have found the measures are creating a sense of community spirit, and prompting them to make more of an effort to check in with family and reconnect with friends.
In Colombia, where a nearly three-week period of self-isolation is now in place, 43-year-old Andrea Uribe has organised everything from group exercise classes to family talent shows using video messaging programmes including Zoom.
I have called my parents more often, I have talked to friends that I usually don't talk to... I have organised Zoom meetings with friends in multiple countries, Uribe, who works in development, told AFP.
It is wonderful to be forced to be there for one another. It has made me more creative. It just shows that we need to be present in people's lives.