The world feels topsy-turvy these days. Many things seem out of place. To protect the people we care about, we must keep our distance. Some workers are receiving more money by staying home than they ever did clocking in. Open and free democracies are forcing citizens to stay at home. Many circumstances that would have seemed unthinkable only a few months ago are currently in play.

The societal effects of the pandemic are indeed convoluted. As we reported, #coronadivorce is trending among couples forced to stay at home together while others are finding themselves smitten all over again.

The Red Cross is warning residents to limit their news consumption in order to preserve their mental health. And a Michelin star chef on Twitter is sharing gourmet recipes revolving around convenience store items.

On the front line of all of this are the "essential workers" braving the pandemic as they continue to carry out essential services. Nurses are taking extra precautions to prevent infections, supermarket clerks are wearing layers of protective gear, and delivery people are potentially exposing themselves as they deliver online orders.

Illustrator Shibatama recently made this last group the focus of an online manga. Her piece, which received a lot of attention after making the rounds on Twitter, focuses on the difficulties of being a delivery worker during these trying times. As the piece points out, although the job is particularly challenging during the pandemic, the goodwill of people is finding ways to prevail.

Shibatama’s Manga

A Message from the Author

There you have it, inspiration to keep fighting the good fight, even despite dark times.

The author left readers with a brief message. Here is a rough translation:

"Despite persistent worries of COVID-19 infections coming from receiving deliveries, it is not the delivery people at fault. It appears that delivery companies are being thoroughly hygienic. If anything, the virus is coming from the delivered products, not the delivery people. While everyone is eager to protect their families, we must remember we are all in this together. We must remember this and act accordingly as we deal with one another."

---

If you'd like to read more of Shibatama's works, you can visit her Instagram account.