Fighting the coronavirus pandemic is hard, in fact it seems impossible.
Doctors, nurses, carers and paramedics around the world are facing an unprecedented workload in overstretched health facilities, and with no end in sight.
They are working in stressful and frightening work environments, not just because the virus is little understood, but because in most settings they are under-protected, overworked and themselves vulnerable to infection.
The risk to doctors, nurses and others on the front lines has become plain: Italy has seen at least 18 doctors with coronavirus die. Spain reported that more than 3,900 health care workers have become infected.
In dire times such as these, people are trying their best to show their appreciation to the frontline workers.
Here are some images -- from clapping for them to singing for them.. A 'thank you' in any way goes a long way around.
A local medical worker embraces and bids farewell to a medical worker from Jiangsu at the Wuhan Railway Station as the medical team from Jiangsu leaves Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Hubei province, China. Photograph: China Daily/Reuters
Residents clap and bang utensils to cheer for emergency personnel and sanitation workers who are on the frontlines in the fight against coronavirus, in Ahmedabad. The action came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a televised address had asked people to extend their gratitude to the workers. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters
SEE: President Ram Nath Kovind and his family claps to express gratitude to those providing essential services
Volunteers of Siddhivinayak Temple Trust distribute food and bottled water to police and traffic police personnel deployed on duty the nationwide lockdown, imposed in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, at Mahim in Mumbai. Photograph: Kunal Patil/PTI Photo
A girl writes a message in support of key workers, as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues in High Wycombe, Britain. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters
A message reading "Thank you NHS" is displayed on the outside of Wembley Stadium as the spread of COVID-19 continues. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters
SEE: U2’s Bono sings for frontline workers, victims of Covid-19
"For the Italians who inspired it... for the Irish... for the doctors, nurses, carers on on the front line, it’s you we’re singing to," said Bono of the song as he posted it across U2's social media timelines.
The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS amid the coronavirus pandemic in London, Britain. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters
A message thanking healthcare workers during the coronavirus outbreak is seen on an electronic billboard in a nearly empty Times Square in Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
Chef Danny Conkling of The London Plane restaurant serves hundreds of free meals to healthcare workers on the front lines of the coronavirus disease outbreak at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Photograph: David Ryder/Reuters
SEE: NHS staff sing 'You’ll Never Walk Alone'
Paramedics and other hospital staff join and start singing You'll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers for those who are treating the ill.
A man passes a sign on a boarded up business thanking those still working amid the coronavirus outbreak in Seattle, Washington. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters
A banner which reads "Thanks to the caregivers" is seen on a balcony in Paris as a lockdown is imposed to slow the rate of the coronavirus disease spread in France. Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
Family members are seen from their balcony during a call on social media to thank Spanish medical staff fighting against coronavirus as they remain confined inside their home due to the coronavirus outbreak, in downtown Ronda, southern Spain. Photograph: Jon Nazca/Reuters
A woman and children stand on their balcony and clap as they take part in an initiative to hold mass applause for medical teams fighting the coronavirus outbreak in Ashkelon, Israel. Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters
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