Coronavirus positive: good news round-up – Medical marvels and tiny ponies

I’m kicking today off with this tiny pony. Workers at Park Lane Stables in West London are taking the tiny ponies to people's homes to spread some cheer. In the picture above family members Bryony, Alice (who celebrated her second birthday on Thursday), Stanley, and Paul Blant stand on their doorstep looking at a Welsh mountain pony Annie's Wizz, held by handler Daisy Cinque.

In medical news, the first human trial in Europe of a Covid-19 vaccine kicked off yesterday, with the first two volunteers receiving their injections in Oxford.

One of the volunteers, Elisa Granato, told the BBC: "I'm a scientist, so I wanted to try to support the scientific process wherever I can." The injection was developed in under three months and more than 800 others have signed up to participate in the trial. Of those taking part, half will receive either the potential coronavirus vaccine or a control meningitis jab; only the scientists know who gets which. The volunteers won’t be put into contact with coronavirus, but will be carefully monitored to see if they pick it up over the next few months and how their bodies respond.

Sarah Gilbert, who has led the pre-clinical research, said: "Personally I have a high degree of confidence in this vaccine." You can watch a video of the vaccinations here.

Meanwhile, scientists at the University of Exeter are developing a new test to detect whether people who have had Covid-19 are still infectious. It’s hoped that the test will show how much active virus is in each infected person, which could help essential workers know when they’re safe to return to work.

Professor Lorna Harries, who is developing the test, said: "Currently, people with Covid-19 can recover completely, yet still test positive. If successful, this new test will specifically look for active virus, and tell us how much of it is present.

"It would be incredibly useful in helping people safely to return to frontline duties, or patients return to care homes."

From medical marvels to essential workers. Bin collection crews across the country have been inundated with messages of support and thanks from residents for their service during lockdown. One message reads: “A huge thank you for still working in such worrying times. I know you may feel unappreciated but I need you to know that is not the case. You are keeping the country going, you are important. Stay safe and thank you.”

The community spirit doesn’t end with the messages either. Over Easter, the collection team in Worcestershire received Easter eggs from locals and decided to regift these with local children in hospitals and hospices.

Have you used a Little Free Library? The free book exchange service operates across 108 countries, and, in lockdown, has been repurposed with food and essential items like soap and toilet roll. People can check the location of boxes on a new online map and see what’s inside each.

And Tom Hanks has written a letter to an eight-year-old boy named Corona from Helensvale, Australia, who was being bullied at school because of his name. Corona had sent Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson a letter after they were diagnosed with Covid-19 asking if they were ok. Hanks’ response started: “Your letter made my wife and I feel so wonderful!” and ended “PS You got a friend in me!” – a reference to the song that features in Toy Story, in which Hanks starred.

More positive coronavirus news:

• The Big Night In, broadcast on BBC1, was watched by 6.7 million viewers on Thursday night and raised more than £27 million to support vulnerable people across the UK.

• A new helpline called StarLine is being set up for parents struggling with homeschooling. It will be run by teachers and education experts, and will provide advice for parents on how to educate their children and manage their child’s behaviour.

• Spain has recorded its lowest number of daily coronavirus deaths in over a month, with 367 deaths in the previous 24 hours.

• A UK tech company, Kortext, has launched the world’s most comprehensive online student support programme, allowing students across the UK to continue their education during lockdown. All 180+ universities have been offered free access to critical textbook content.

• Fifty BVLGARI employees in Lombardy have been producing medical grade hand sanitiser on a voluntary basis – more than 160,000 units of which are being donated to the NHS. Workers at the Italian luxury fashion brand are producing these in their perfume factory.

• Roadkill is down in Belgium thanks to coronavirus. While 2,032 fatal collisions with hedgehogs, badgers and polecats are usually reported between mid-March and mid-April, this year only 772 were called in.

• Phone a friend – or a stranger. College students in Canada have created a toll-free hotline with messages of positivity for elderly people in isolation. Callers will hear motivational messages, stories, poems and jokes.

TODAY’S MOODBOARD

Three pleasant things to put into your head 

1.

Two children in Hanoi, Vietnam used their “lucky money” – money they’ve been saving up – to send 20,000 medical masks to the UK. The British Ambassador to Vietnam, Gareth Ward, confirmed the masks had been sent on a commercial flight last week and thanked Nhan and Khoi for their donation.

2.

Does this dolphin have magic powers?

3.

Bocketts Farm in Leatherhead, Surrey showed their appreciation for the NHS on Thursday by changing the spray paint markings on sheep and newborn lambs to rainbows.

Do you have some good news to share? What's made you happier in the past 24 hours? Have you seen a pleasing picture of a bird? Please send it all our way, either by commenting below or emailing coronapositive@telegraph.co.uk

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