Let's face it: most of us are scared today. We are frightened of what the future holds and, as is the nature and necessity of news, the media focus on the scarier parts of a story to ensure public precautions are taken. We have never lived through something like this before - but this could also be humanity's finest hour.

It says a lot that there was no need to use 'coronavirus' or 'Covid-19' in our opening paragraph. Our concerns are one and many; that we might find a cure to save the many, many people that we hold dear. It is important that we acknowledge that there is an electricity in the air that was not there even a week ago.

Many of us - the vast majority of us - are deeply concerned about what the future holds for our loved ones and ourselves. Covid-19 has the potential to kill around 1% of those who get it, and 15% of those who get it will likely require hospital treatment. These are stark facts that require proper understanding so that we all act accordingly. If one link in the chain is weak, things become difficult for all of us.

But the situation is not solely negative. In the past week, in Ireland alone, we have seen the burgeoning spirit of supporting and protecting elderly people. We shut the pubs on Paddy's Day, for Christ's sake. Countries and individuals might be reacting at different speeds, but the result is the same - we realise that we need to do everything we can to help those that need it most.

So, here are the main reasons to be positive:

Never before has humanity focused on one problem at one time

Think of the major events in recent history; the period which a 100-year-old may feasibly remember. You might have drawn up the moon landings, 9/11, the Normandy landings or countless others. The gift and the curse of human nature is that we are designed to be competitive. We are supposed to try and better the lot of ourselves and our tribe. So, when you think of many of history's most memorable events, it is possible to think of them in terms of 'winners' and 'losers'.

Covid-19 may be a unique event in recorded history. That is not to say that coronaviruses are - there are currently seven human coronavirus strains known - and other pandemics have come and gone. But it is unique in that never before have we had the technology and information-sharing to get immediate breakthroughs available to teams of epidemiologists, virologists and health agencies worldwide. What has been a root of the pandemic itself - the globalised world - might be the saviour of millions of lives.

We appear to be putting aside petty differences to recognise that we all breathe the same air with similar lungs. Providing we focus on this fact above self-interest, this could be a watershed moment in human history.

Genuine community spirit and lack of bickering

Things have very very rapidly deteriorated in Dublin, may need to escape to the mountains if this spreads pic.twitter.com/0HZhp192Fp

— Daniel Lambert (@dlLambo) March 17, 2020

In summer 2011, I was working at an office on Liverpool Street in London when one of the security guys came in saying that we had to evacuate the building. There was rioting down the road and that our safety couldn't be guaranteed; windows were being smashed in and objects thrown at office workers. The riots had been widespread over the city, and country, that summer. Looting and chaos was going on from Tottenham to Clapham, Liverpool to Birmingham.

The next day, there was a really weird feeling on the Tube going into work - the heightened awareness of a precarious situation. It was only after looking at Twitter did my heart lift (how rarely do you say that nowadays?) People from all over the city and country had got together to organise a clean-up. They had got their brooms out, put a bit of music on, and started sweeping. It was such a simple thing, but it showed the power of the interconnectivity that we probably now take for granted.

In the last few days alone, I have seen people design printable leaflets to be left for their neighbours to offer their services - going shopping for them, a quick chat on the phone. Crowdsourcing has come together to raise thousands for people that really need the basics to keep themselves clean and safe. The idea of 'caremongering', where Canadians can ask for help and people provide it.

Expect a lot more of that over the coming months.

Expertise is vital and valued - and Ireland has lots of it

I don't know about you, but I've definitely not 'had enough of experts'. I can't get enough of them. Epidemiologists explaining the risks and how to avoid them; doctors and nurses putting their lives on the line to help your family; economists identifying and trying to offset this kind of 'black swan' event; policy experts briefing politicians as to what to do - and do now.

Ireland has laid particularly solid foundations for this kind of event in one sense. The country is consistently ranked amongst the best-educated in the world, with college attainment rates that reflect on the country well. Just four years ago, Ireland ranked an incredible 10th in the world for scientific research.

There are Irish doctors stationed all around the world, many of whom are looking to return to help fight the virus in Ireland. Medical students are being asked to help lend their expertise and their vitality at a time where it is needed most. This is not to claim that it is not poor that young doctors felt the need to leave in the first place, but they have the right to return - at the time of writing.

A survey into European entrepreneurship placed Ireland fifth in the European Union for entrepreneurship. We generally create smart, lateral-thinking individuals who turn their hands to any number of crafts. Who knows in what essential ways they will benefit the country and the world in the coming months?

Without wishing to get bogged down into a party political side-street, the work of Leo Varadkar and Simon Harris has been swift, responsive and decisive. It has so far paid dividends to have a Taoiseach who is a qualified doctor with clinical experience. Harris continues to be a public servant who not only knows his brief but cares about its impact. Matters around funding and policy decisions will always appear in conversations like this, but credit where it is due.

It makes you realise what is important

Pretty self-explanatory. No-one ever wished they did more hours in the office when they are given bad news. Bring your family in close, check in on friends (on the phone) and take that little bit extra care for the people you don't know.

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