Today I found our local JunkuDo bookstore which I assumed to be closed still opens from noon to 6 pm weekdays only. Even though books may be considered as "non-essential" as pachinko in this situation I felt very much cheered at this.  

Also, the number of newly confirmed COVID-19 patients has dropped to single digit for the first time in weeks (though we had one person lost to the virus today) . 

Is it OK to see these pieces of news as the slightest ray of hope?