Coronavirus positive: good news round-up - why we should be kind to footballers

All sorts of assumptions are being challenged by this crisis.

We will never again take for granted thoughtlessly easy grocery shopping. Exercise, it turns out, is the best part of the day rather than a necessary inconvenience. And footballers are not a scourge on the nation.

After being rather thrown under the bus by Matt Hancock last week, dozens of high-profile players gave their support on Wednesday night to the #PlayersTogether initiative, which will raise money for the NHS and charities.

Led by Jordan Henderson, the most charitable member of Liverpool’s first team if you count selfless passing as a altruism at its purest, the players involved have all signed up to donate money to those who need it during the pandemic.

It has always felt curious that footballers are so vilified for daring to earn lots of money. We all instinctively recoil at weekly wages at the very top end of the game, which often dwarf what most of us would expect to earn in a year. But in a sport awash in billions of pounds of TV money (when it’s taking place, at least) why wouldn’t its stars be entitled to a fair slice?

The scapegoating also tends to focus on the irresponsible behaviour of a handful of players. Yes, some do some very silly things. Some spend their disposable income carelessly. Some dare to have extravagant haircuts. It may shock you to learn that people in their early twenties across every profession often do all of these things too.

The vast majority of professional footballers never end up in tabloid-filling scrapes, plenty do more than their share with charitable work and donations, even more lower down the leagues earn a good living rather than the millions of those at the top of the Premier League.

This crisis is worrying enough without inventing boogeymen to blame.

Elsewhere, the number of people using A&E is way down, so either the nation has become far less accident-prone, or people are sensibly staying away from hospitals when appropriate to help lighten the load.

And this portable priest is bringing his sermons to the streets:

Here’s Harriet with the rest of today’s good news:

• A new story book has been released to help children and young people understand and come to terms with Covid-19. The book is aimed at 6-11 year olds and explains how children can protect themselves and how to manage difficult emotions.

• A two-month-old baby who was believed to have been Italy's youngest coronavirus patient has been released from hospital after overcoming the disease.

• The Wildlife Trust, RSPB and Wilderness Foundation are launching a campaign today to connect people with nature and boost their mental health in lockdown. The charities have put together 100+ activities – including lots of Easter-themed tasks – for people to complete at home.

• Ballet dancers in Russia have been performing their routines in kitchens and living rooms and posting them online for fans after theatres have been closed.

• Spain’s death toll slowed today, with the prime minister saying the worst should soon be over. “This war against the virus will be a total victory... the fire starts to come under control,” he said.

• A hotel in Kent, The Pig at Bridge Place, is delivering its fruit and vegetables to the doorsteps of NHS workers, those at higher risk from catching the virus, and the vulnerable. The 29 residents of a nearby gorilla sanctuary are also benefiting.

• Countries across Europe are slowly starting to ease restrictions, albeit cautiously. Italy is hoping to gradually relax lockdown measures by the end of the month as the disease continues to slow. Meanwhile small shops will open in Austria and Czech Republic next week.

• Wild flowers in the UK are set to boom as councils have stopped mowing and trimming parks and pathways, according to a plant charity.

• Pippa Erskine, 30 from Battersea, will be riding 100km this Easter Sunday to celebrate the third anniversary of her double lung transplant. She’s adapted her ride to be able to complete the feat from home, and is raising money for the two hospitals that saved her life.

• Lidl is donating thousands of Easter eggs to charities supporting vulnerable people and Great Ormond Street this weekend.

• By Harriet Barber

TODAY’S MOODBOARD

Three pleasant things to put into your head 

1.

2.

Loved this from Coronavirus Positive fan Martin Coupe. He writes:

3.

• 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

• For stories showcasing community spirit, plus the best advice for coping with coronavirus isolation sign up for our free You Are Not Alone newsletter.