I am more than willing to admit that I do not like watching all this televised coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is non-stop, relentless and unforgiving. The news is mostly grim and it frightens me as I think of my family and wondering if they’re safe from the killer disease.

Now, is the entire coverage depressing and frightening? No. Much of it also is uplifting. I refer to the feel-good stories we get to see on TV or read in newspapers or online. They tell us about heroes and the truly magnificent heroic acts they are performing.

We need to effectively re-establish the definition of “hero.” The term no longer applies just to military personnel who thrust themselves into harm’s way; they aren’t just firefighters who rush into burning buildings to rescue people caught in the flames; or police officers who stop a criminal from inflicting havoc on a community.

Heroes now include doctors and nurses who are tending to infected patients. They work in nursing homes and assisted living centers tending to elderly residents who are highly vulnerable to the ravages of this disease. They are grocery vendors who deliver food to retail outlets to ensure that residents can purchase the goods they need just to get through the day or the week. Heroes are ambulance drivers, paramedics and utility workers who expose themselves to those in need … who well might be infected with the disease.

I also want to point out that the media that keep getting panned unfairly for the coverage they provide. We hear from those in the conservative media that their “mainstream media” colleagues are overhyping the danger being delivered by the virus.

The media that get vilified unjustly also are telling us regularly about the heroes among us. The media are reporting throughout the day the stories we want to hear, we want to see and about which we want to read. They are giving proper praise to those who are risking their lives to save the lives of others.

Although I am weary of the onslaught of grim news, I am strengthened by news of another sort. The heroes make me humble and proud of the work they are doing to serve all of our communities.