At least 200,000 people worldwide have been infected in the coronavirus pandemic and it has led to the deaths of more than 8,000.

But as many countries are put on lockdown, some good things have emerged.

Amid the self-isolation which many have been forced to accept, here are nine positive effects which have come from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Community spirit

In Eastbourne, hundreds of people have signed up for a telephone befriending service to keep their community together.


Councillor Helen Burton said: "People want to do something to help others, which is fantastic.

For more information, or to sign up, email: eastbournevolunteers@gmail.com

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Help for the elderly

Panic buying is especially hard on older people, some of whom are less able to get to the shops regularly.

So supermarkets have responded, offering slots reserved for the elderly to make sure they don't miss out on essentials. Some banks are taking similar steps.

Image: Sainsbury's says its stores will only be open to customers over 70 and those with a disability for the first hour of trading on Thursday

Pollution down

Up to 100,000 premature deaths caused by air pollution in China could be avoided if the country's economic slowdown continues at its current rate over the next year, researchers say.

Under measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, local businesses have been shut, factories closed, social movement restricted and transportation throughout China brought to a halt.

As the burning of fossil fuels has dropped, air quality has improved significantly, the Centre for International Climate Research in Oslo (Cicero) has said and the impact will be felt worldwide.

Image: Smog is normally typical in China, the world's biggest carbon polluter

Footballers play online games to raise money

128 professional clubs from the Premier League, EFL and across the globe are competing in an online FIFA tournament, with fans watching online encouraged to donate money.

Each club nominates one of its players to go up against another star from a different side - with the knockout tournament whittling its way down to two teams who will play in a final.

It is hoped £50,000 will be raised for research into COVID-19.

The Chelsea hotel opens to medical workers

Premier League club Chelsea has offered NHS workers free accommodation for the next two months at the Millennium Hotel at its Stamford Bridge ground.

The cost of the rooms will be covered by club owner Roman Abramovich.

Image: Chelsea's football ground, Stamford Bridge

Venice cleans up its act

Staying with pollution, Venice has been benefiting from the lockdown in Italy.

The city's famous canals have never been cleaner, according to many reports.

Clean hands back in fashion

The owner of fashion giant Louis Vuitton will provide French authorities with hand sanitiser "for as long as necessary" as the country battles against the coronavirus outbreak.

LVMH has instructed the perfumes and cosmetics side of the business to get ready to switch to hand sanitiser this week. What's more, it will be free.

Image: Racegoers use hand sanitiser to keep their hands clean at the Cheltenham Festival

There's never been a better time to stay in

Whether it's The Sopranos, The Wire, Breaking Bad or Peaky Blinders, we're constantly told this is a golden age for television, especially drama.

What better time to watch that box set you never got around to in the past?

Image: Jessie and Walter cooked up drugs in their university lab in Breaking Bad. Pic. Sony

Sing-a-long-a-lockdown

Italians have been making their own entertainment since the country went into lockdown, not least in its crowded cities, where people have been channelling their inner Pavarotti to help pass the time.

Italians sing through coronavirus lockdown