As the coronavirus death toll soars in New York, a Scot who is working there has been overwhelmed by random acts of kindness.
Michael McCuish, a former media executive with VisitScotland, from Oban, moved to work in the Big Apple three months ago to progress a freelance PR career.
And he has seen the city transformed from the world’s most bustling trading station to a place of deserted streets, as the lockdown finally sunk in.
This week, the city recorded its highest single-day increase in virus deaths with 731 people losing their lives on Tuesday, bringing the toll to over 5000 deaths and more than 138,000 infections.
Michael, 32, said New Yorkers are going out of their way to help him.
He said: “There has been a lovely out-pouring of love and support from colleagues, contacts and friends here - especially because they know that I am away from home.
“I once mentioned offhand during a conversation to a colleague’s mum that I like lemon cake, so she decided to bake me three.
“ Whisky has been appearing at my door on a regular occasion too – even a couple of Obans in there, which has made me smile.”
Michael added: “I believe the virus is going to spread a lot more over the next two weeks. I am seeing a lot more masks and gloves – almost everyone has them.
“The reaction was slow here, mostly because it was seen as a foreign problem which wouldn’t trouble the US too much, which the president repeated often.
“But that has definitely changed and there is a feeling of the area rallying more.”
