Isolation stories

A portrait series of people self isolating due to travel, sickness or vulnerable health, and a little chat about their experiences in isolation during the Covid-19 outbreak. I've found the project to be a beautiful way to connect with people (safely), and share their stories to others who might be feeling alone. A little reminder that we're all in this.

Bridget, 27, Nurse.

Recently returned from visiting family and friends in New Zealand. 

Isolating since 21st March. 

Day 8 of 14.

“I am a Nurse, so I'll be back on the front line as soon as my isolation is done. I would like to choose to stay safe in this little house. But I am also aware of our community’s needs in the coming weeks and months, hence I will be continuing to go to work. Due to the high risk nature of my job, I am also aware that this may not be the only stint of mandatory isolation I complete. However, apart from seeing my partner, I intend to self-isolate until this has settled and will only go out for necessities. This 14 day stretch has felt like a test for the coming months. I’m just trying to stay calm and get through.”

Edwina, 30, Photographer.

39 weeks pregnant.

Isolating since 18th March.

Day 11.

“I don’t want to risk getting sick right now. I imagine it would be a risk to my baby, as well as a risk to all the hospital staff, and I think I’d have to wear a mask while giving birth. Also, my partner might catch it from me and he wouldn’t be able to be present for the birth. I’m really going to lean on him as my support person, and the idea of being alone during the birth fills me with so much dread and sadness! 

I feel bad to admit it, but I’m actually quite enjoying aspects of the isolation. I think it helps having something so positive to look forward to. I know we are going to be very preoccupied soon, so we’re really enjoying this time alone together. I do miss seeing my family though, that’s the hardest thing. I’d usually see them every week and I’m sad that they might not be able to meet our newborn for a while.”

Anna, 39, Change manager for the National Disability Insurance Agency. 

Recently returned from Spain. 

Isolating since 17th March.

Day 14 of 14. 

“I had travelled to Madrid on 6th March, when the DFAT advice was still at level 1 and Spain only had 8 confirmed cases. I was going to be spending ten days with my Mum there, and then flying to Lanzarote for a friend’s 40th birthday party. By day six, Spain’s infection rates had skyrocketed, and there was talk of a shutdown. Mum and I talked about the risks, and decided to cut the holiday short. 

I have found the break in my routine – especially not being able to go to my morning gym class has been super hard. Not hugging has been super hard. I have learned that I am a creature of habit, and whilst my job is to help people manage change, I myself am not a great fan of things changing. 

I’m trying to be as strict as possible, while still learning to be gentle with myself. I want to keep especially my morning routine as fixed as possible, where exercise, coffee, time with Ed (the cat) and piano practice is concerned. Obviously without needing to travel for work, I don’t have to get up quite as early. I work from about 8:30 – 5:30 but I’ve been strict on a full hour for lunch, and Jamie and I both take the break at the same time and eat together. 

I understand from my close friends and from the media in general that this is a shitty shitty time for a lot of people, but also being a bit polly-anna I see there are positives. There are examples of beautiful humanity (also some low behaviour) and sharing, and turning to the community in different ways. We are slowing down – I feel this is important. I’m not saying it’s easy, as my usual way of operating is “Do! Act! Accomplish!” but it’s a reflective time and I think a time of learning, whether we’re comfortable with it or not.”

Nick, 33, Youth mental health clinician

Recently returned from travel in New Zealand.

Isolating since 21st March. 

Day 9 of 14. 

“We’re really outdoorsy people and I miss being able to go out on my bike or for a hike at my favourite spot at Lerderderg. I thought being able to look out of the Merri Creek trail would be a nice way to remain connected with nature and people, and for the most part it has. There have been some tender moments watching people out on their bikes, exercising, and walking together, but it’s been difficult knowing that you can’t get out there yourself. It’s also been a source of frustration to see a lot of others ignore the physical distancing guidelines.

I’m really lucky to have amazingly supportive family, friends and neighbours who have come to visit us from the garden as we stand out on the balcony wearing our masks. They’ve been dropping off supplies to us and keeping us company which definitely breaks up the time inside. One thing I’ve learnt about myself is how much I value physical contact; I’d underestimated this previously. It’s been challenging to see my parents and close friends and not be able to hug and hold them. 

For the most part when it’s just the two of us, we try to make it as fun as possible. We’ve made a “Mando self-iso advent calendar” from an old cereal box that we get to open a door each day revealing a treat, counting down the days until we can open the apartment door again. Physical activity has been important too, so we’ll often start doing laps of the hallway or balcony, which often turns into a game of tag.

I’m not sure I would’ve opted for this if it were a choice, but I’m kind of glad that I’ve got to experience something like this. It’s given me a greater appreciation for those who struggle on a daily basis, like the young people I work with. It’s given me greater recognition of the privileges I have too. I hope we can all learn something from this time.”

Sophia, 32, Psychiatric Nurse (and dogs Taika and Moosey).

Recently returned from travel in Japan.

Isolating since 20th March.

Day 12 of 14.

“I’m isolating outside in a van as my family were worried I might have 'The Rona' and didn't want me to pass it on considering there's a baby in the house. They have been making my food, and there is an external bathroom that I can access. Plus I get the deck area which is a nice place to chill in the sunshine. I can talk to my family through the window so I don't feel so lonesome. The dogs are my isolation company which has been amazing. They have done really well considering they are big softies and love being inside.

The first few days I lay around watching Netflix, slept till lunchtime, spent far too much time on my phone, drank a lot of wine and ate a lot of uber eats (contact free delivery is great!).

Then I decided that since I am sitting around all day I might as well be slightly healthy, so I've been doing daily f45 workouts, sometimes yoga, eating clean and drinking lots of water. I’ve also been reading a bit, sunbathing when the sun decides to come out, listening to music, entertaining the dogs or being entertained by them, colouring my hair, putting on face masks and Skyping friends who are on lockdown in NZ. I set up my pottery gear so have been doing some wheel throwing most days which has been super nice to have time for.

My days start slow and with lots of coffee and end slow with lots of Netflix.”

Monique, 34, Carlos, 38, and daughter, Luna, 20 months. 

Recently returned from travel in Colombia.

Isolating since 21st March

Day 13 of 14

“We keep our days as relaxed as possible, which is pretty hard with a toddler! I try to achieve at least one thing a day (I'm the dreamer), and Carlos is using his time to draw and create as he normally does. Luna yells at the front door to be let out which is hard, but we are not unique in our situation and are lucky that we have our own space to isolate in.

It's nice having both of us at home but we miss being able to go outside and my heart breaks for Luna as she misses her little friends, just as we do. We know things won't be too different when we come out of isolation but knowing that we can at least go for a walk will make a big difference to our days.

Overall, we just feel really grateful that we made it home. We were in a small town called Barichara when things started to come apart, announcement after announcement came in and we scrambled to get back. The same day we flew out, our original airline cancelled our flight which was scheduled for a few days later, I knew I was right to follow my gut.

Since having Luna our pace of life has slowed and if this isolation has taught us anything it's that a simple life is a good life. We hope that this lockdown period across the world incites some much needed positive change, it may be wishful thinking but mother nature needs time to heal, I think we all do.”

Nina, 39, Dom, 36, and Rimu, 17. 

Nina returned early from a work trip overseas.

Isolating since 19th March.

Day 13/14.

“I’m enjoying the simplicity of isolation. I came into 2020 with pretty intense burnout and really wanted to be a ‘good Mum’ for Rimu’s last year of school, I’ve had guilt over working too much and not being super present for him. I guess the forced isolation feels like an opportunity to be closer to him and have a few extra face to face Mum-hours, even if it’s just eating meals or passing in the hallway. I’ve baked bread twice.

I own/run a clothing label and store and it’s been a pretty weird time to be making and selling clothes. I have watched my bricks and mortar store close down from my phone and computer screen, but my team on the ground have been great. I’m using the time to be as creative as possible as to how to pivot my business through the financial crisis, how I keep my staff employed, how to keep my manufacturers working too. I feel pretty positive about it, maybe I’m nuts, but my gut says we will be fine, so I’m trying to think big.” - Nina

“Honestly I am really enjoying the isolation. The world feels smaller, there is less pressure to do social things, more time to hang out. The enjoyment I’m getting has been instructive around what I actually enjoy versus what I feel like I should enjoy.” - Dom

“The positive part is that I am no longer getting distracted from homework by my social life. The worst part is not being able to see my friends!” - Rimu

Josephine, 31, (and dog, Maybe).

Exposed to a suspected case of Covid-19.

Isolating since 21st March.

Day 12. 

“It’s OK - my housemate Teq and I get on pretty well. But they are an introvert, and I’m an extrovert. So that’s sometimes difficult. They are feeling over socialised, and I’m feeling under. I’m trying to schedule online catch ups - but after staring at a screen all day, it’s usually the last thing I want to do. 

Teq has been sick, and we’ve both been exposed to a suspected case of Covid-19. It sucks that we don’t know whether or not we were exposed. Our friend’s mum got sent to hospital with respiratory problems, and our friend got sick just after seeing us. But because the Mum didn’t have a fever (like 20% of Covid-19 patients) she didn’t qualify for the test. And we are left in the dark. I wish we knew how much to worry - I have no idea if we are under reacting or overreacting.  And with the testing protocols as they are, we may never know.”

Megan and Dave, both 31. 

Isolating since 25th March. 

Day 7.

“As a Grade 1 primary school teacher in a school of 900+ students it was likely that I could have been exposed to just about anything before the school holidays were brought forward. I made the decision that Dave and myself would isolate in case I was carrying anything home from the classroom.

Honestly, we have been having a blast in isolation. We had only moved into our home two weeks earlier so the novelty of a new home and suburb has not worn off at all. We have been busy in the garden, I am learning the ukulele, we are about to adopt our second rescue cat and we have been drinking wine and doing puzzles. It has been nice to have some down time after a crazy first term of teaching.

I am a graduate primary school teacher with a Grade 1 class. I am so proud of all the educators out there, showing such resilience and basically reinventing teaching as remote learning. Next term will be interesting, and I have already begun filming some lessons to show the kids online.

I can thoroughly recommend having as many dance parties alone in your house as possible - it worked wonders for us.”

Chloe, 31, PhD student, (and cat, Mabel).

At risk due to health condition.

Isolating since 18th March.

Day 21. 

“I’m currently on immunosuppressants for a kidney disease I was diagnosed with last year. As my immune system is weakened, it’s really risky for me to contract anything, so I’ll be staying home for a while – I really need to wait until some kind of herd immunity has been reached, or a vaccine (hopefully it won’t be for that long though!).

The kinds of routines that I used to follow have dissolved a little bit, and now I work more when I’m in the mood and rest when I need to. While I don’t think that everyone should be being productive during this time, I personally struggle with taking down-time and switching off. I’m finding that I’m working a lot, but at a more sustainable pace.

I’m deeply introverted, and I’ve had a lot of enforced down-time recovering from surgeries over the past year, so I’m somewhat used to the particular time-dragging feeling that we’re all experiencing now. The good part is that, now that everyone’s in the same boat, we’re getting much better at reaching out and sustaining connection. I’ve really struggled in the past with feeling isolated when I’m unwell, so it’s great to have so many friends reaching out and offering help. As I live alone, I adopted Mabel a few months ago, and it’s made such a difference – this would be so much harder without her company.”

Maree, 40, single Mum by choice to Owen, 9 months. 

Both have been unwell. 

Isolating since 16th March.

Day 21. 

“In the first few weeks of iso I tried to stick to a routine and got a bit swept up in the whole ‘what productive things can I do with all this time at home’ thing, but then remembered, ‘aaaahhh you’re a single mum to a baby, there is no such thing as spare time!’. It has taken a little while to get used to such stillness, but now we’ve settled into it and just taking each day as it comes and having lots of cuddles and giggles.

I have been loving all of the wonderful, creative, online stuff that has been going on. I’ve been tuning in to the fabulous Isol-Aid online music festival each weekend and also Delivered Live. I have also enjoyed a Zoom or Houseparty drink with friends after Owen has gone to bed. I even played a solo gig last Saturday night at an online ‘Boogie in your Backyard’ music festival that some friends organised. After I had put Owen to bed I set up a stage in my lounge room, and played a set over Facebook Live to 20 or so friends watching and commenting on my performance. It felt weirdly like the real deal! I’m hoping that online live gigs hang around for a while after the whole C storm passes. 

In a way, this is a solo parent’s dream! Before I had Owen I used to go to and play a fair few gigs. But I’ve only been out at night twice in the last year. Now I can ‘go’ to a gig, music festival or drinks with friends without leaving home!”

Sylvie, 69. 

“As I live alone I'm used to spending time alone. Sometimes I'm envious of my friends who live with their life companions. I have been missing catching up with friends and going out to hear music. 

I love the quiet due to minimal cars and building construction. Blissful! I love that people in the street are now smiling at each other and are friendly and chatty. We have gone back to the old days of "over the fence" conversations.

The things that make me grumpy are:
1. All the crazy conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated blame games going on in the media.
2. The fact that so many people (especially young people) don't keep a safe distance on the footpaths. I often have to walk onto the road/gutter or cross the road because of these ignorant and inconsiderate people.”

Katie, 27, with fiancée and housemates, Lola, Kirsty and Luke. 

Isolating due to chronic illness. 

Isolating since 18th March.

Day 27.

“I have chronic illnesses, which are fortunately low risk, but I have been having interventionist treatment for them. I’m participating in a clinical trial where an implant is surgically inserted into the spine, to reduce my pain. Unfortunately for the time being it’s been postponed, but I still need to stay as healthy as possible to participate whenever it’s back on. 

Isolation hasn’t been much of a change to how my life operates, except everyone else is doing it too! I’ve been managing chronic pain for ten years; I’m very used to life being full of uncertainty: I can be quite well and then it all falls apart in the space of a day. I’m used to not seeing people in real life as much as I’d like to. It sounds bleak, but it’s prepared me really well for this. I really feel for able bodied, healthy people who are having a crash course in the challenges I’ve had a decade to get a handle on. 

A big positive has been that what’s really important in life has become crystallised. Being healthy, spending time with people you love and looking after each other are what life’s all about to me. My partner Lola’s found it to be the same. She proposed in a park near our house the day we moved into her mum’s place for isolation. I’m not a romantic, but it was just perfect. We were just sitting there just loving how good it was to be enjoying the blue sky, the first leaves falling, watching dogs and children play. That moment really captures for me what really matters.”

Jim, and wife, Jill.

Bone Marrow Transplant patient and carer.

Day 85 of isolation.

“We moved here from our home in Ocean Grove on the 12th January to start treatment for a Bone Marrow Transplant. I’ve been pretty much isolated either here or at the Royal Melbourne Hospital ever since. We were hoping that by this stage (Day 84 out of 100 of recovery) that we would be able to enjoy the pleasures of inner city living, visiting the numerous great cafes, going to NOVA cinema and enjoying the ambience of the Queen Vic market. That has not been possible with the onset of the coronavirus which has also prevented us from being physically close to our children who cannot visit us at the BMDI House (Bone Marrow Donor Institute). Nevertheless I remain optimistic that this is very much a temporary inconvenience and with care we will get through this and return to a semi-normal life once coronavirus is brought under control.” – Jim.

“I am isolating because I am Jim’s only carer and I must take every possible step not to get sick. We were lucky enough to get an apartment within BMDI House so I could stay close while Jim was undergoing treatment and then he could join me here when he was released from hospital. In the first month I was able to go out and see friends, but that was such a scary time as he was so unwell that I didn’t want to see anyone. I was as prepared as I could be for the transplant (which was not very prepared), but I did not imagine following that period of isolation with a global pandemic! 

I hope COVID-19 brings positive changes to the world. It has potential for broad reaching and long-lasting impacts on how we live, treat the world and treat each other. We can do better than return to things the way they were. We can rethink the importance of local food supplies, examine why people felt the need to hoard toilet paper and celebrate the generosity and goodwill of those who have shared and learn from experiences that have been less positive.” – Jill.

Tai Snaith, 39, Artist and author.

Isolating since March 11.

“My two boys and my partner and I have been isolating since we got back from spending the long weekend at Womadelaide. I realised I had a bit of a sore throat and I figured I had been at an international festival with 90,000 people, so probably best not to risk me or the kids spreading it around, just in case!

We have been finding it ok for the past 5 weeks – just trying to stay creative and positive and flexible around each other and keep the house relatively clean. I’ve never swept the floor so much in my life! My partner Simon is working from home upstairs, in our open bedroom space. I am teaching both kids, cooking and cleaning, and still making some work in my studio downstairs (usually at night when I have a second to myself!). Luckily we have a great house that fits all of our needs and we actually kinda like being stuck inside it! 

I’m hoping that this time brings us all closer together and maybe some of the slower, more grounded routines we are adopting might stick around in the future.”

Liz, 55.

Isolating since 23rd March, due to skin cancer surgeries.

“I’m isolating with my partner and 14-year-old daughter. Our 24-year-old son and his partner moved to Hobart just before Tasmania was locked down. My mum is in her 80s and self-isolating in Heidelberg. I miss them hugely.

I am self-isolating because I was diagnosed with a fast-growing SCC skin cancer on my lip in March and have had to stay risk free for two subsequent surgeries.

I’m a senior executive at a university and have had significant responsibilities for moving teaching online for over 25,000 students. So, in between cancer surgeries, I have a very busy work life that I’m running remotely. My day usually involves 7 or 8 one-hour Zoom meetings, then a few hours of emails. My partner works from another room in the house. Our daughter is diligently doing her schoolwork remotely, chatting online with her friends and practicing tap routines in the hallway.

I’m an extroverted extrovert, so I am lucky to be isolating with two others, but I very much miss catching up with the rest of my family and my mates. It’s getting darker much earlier now, but until recently I was enjoying wine o’clock on the deck and a Zoom chat with friends to signal an end to the workday or week. I miss being out and about, most of all being able to go for a swim or to yoga classes. I can’t get excited by the whole ‘let’s learn a language, crochet, write a blog’ productivity approach to iso – I actually think it’s a bit of a sham. I am taking the ‘whatever it takes to survive’ approach, which means I spend a lot of time binge watching TV. In iso I’ve learnt that I’m more resilient than I was in the past and have adapted to the changes reasonably comfortably, in spite of the fact that it sucks. The one time I lost it was when Tasmania closed its borders the day before I was flying to Hobart to see my son. The first thing I’m going to do when the restrictions are lifted is fly straight down there.”

Debbie, 34, PhD student. 

Isolating since 17th March.

“I began self-isolating when I was hosting a friend of a friend from Argentina. She arrived and had to be in quarantine for 14 days. Since she was sleeping on my couch, and we were using the same bathroom, I decided to self-isolate for the protection of others. Since she left, two weeks ago, I've been even more cautious. The thing is, I have type-1 diabetes so I am being extra careful with social distancing. I am not sure what can happen to a young, healthy person with diabetes, if infected with COVID-19. I am ambivalent about referring to myself as being at risk, or more so than others.

I miss being able to touch things without being afraid; even simple things like the fruit in the supermarket, or a friendly dog at the park. I miss seeing familiar faces, particularly people at uni. The campus is like my second home. I miss having lunch and coffee breaks with my friends.

I’ve learnt a lot about myself. I guess the biggest thing is the ongoing process of learning to hold myself. To hold myself when I am angry at what's happening. To hold myself when I am afraid, anxious, frustrated or sad.”

Supported by the City of Melbourne COVID-19 Arts Grants.