Even as the COVID-19 pandemic throws everyday life into turmoil (as per the latest estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), India has 151 confirmed cases and three deaths so far), there are faint glimmers of hope amidst all the gloom. The RBI’s trade data for the month of February revealed that contrary to all expectations, merchandise exports recovered slightly after contracting for six straight months. While the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) and other trade bodies have cautioned that the true effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may be visible only from March onward, the news of the export recovery came as a small beam of hope for India’s beleaguered exports sector. In further good news, the Union Cabinet also approved the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme to reimburse taxes and duties to exporters. This scheme will lend support to exporters worried about the impact of the global trade slowdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. FIEO has reportedly asked for further government assistance and intervention to help exports survive the coronavirus crisis, even as exporters have warned that high volumes of order cancellations and delays may lead to a significant rise in defaults of bank loans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the setup of a Task Force under Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to guide India’s response to COVID-19. As the outbreak spreads and more and more businesses and individuals are affected by it, the Task Force’s role will become increasingly important to boost morale and keep up hope in the time of the coronavirus.