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Overview

#ClapBecauseWeCare refers to a campaign in which the people of cities and countries affected by the Coronavirus come together at a certain time to clap outside of their windows for health care professionals who continue to work while others are stuck in quarantine.

Background

On March 22nd, 2020 people in India coordinated to come together at 5 P.M.^[1] to clap outside of their windows for the nation's health care workers, who were working to combat the Coronavirus while others were staying indoors (video shown below).

Of note, this is what Priyanka Chopra was imitating in her clapping video, though she could not join in with the people of India and instead clapped by herself.

Developments

After the story of India's tribute spread, other areas affected by the Coronavirus began adopting a similar practice. One of the most notable areas was New York City, which began the practice on March 27th after international public relations agency Karla Otto organized the applause and encouraged others to share their tribute with the hashtag #ClapBecauseWeCare.^[2] One example video was posted by @dinodaizovi, gaining over 220 retweets (shown below).

The gesture was praised by numerous health care professionals and publications. While speaking to ABC News, a nurse in New York City was interrupted by the applause, and said, "That gives me such a boost and such hope that we’re going to unite and we’re going to fight this bad boy because this virus is vicious" (shown below).

Writing of the practice in the New York Times,^[3] writer Amanda Hess wrote:

"Thanking health care workers may be the point of this act, but its delights lie beside the point. The Clapping is a communal outburst. It is a reminder that though we are isolated, we are not alone. It is made up of a hundred little improvisations that nevertheless add up to a comfortingly predictable cacophony, tailored to the street where you live."

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References