Swallows have been figured in myth over centuries. They represent birth/death/rebirth/fertility/ and Hope.
Shakespeare observes:
True hope is swift, and flies with swallow’s wings. Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.
Pandora – the contents of whose box only too literally reminds me of COVID-19 – also knew the importance of Hope.
These swallows painted by Jan van Oort are the sand Martin, common house Martin and barn swallow. We must hope upon hope.