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100 Years of Nursing Education at Western

Collected Item: “Living through a frozen world”

I agree to the Terms and Conditions of submitting to COVID-19 in London, Ontario: capturing the local experience.

Yes

Give your entry a title

Living through a frozen world

Creator (put anonymous if you don't want your name to appear)

a. aubertin

Date

June 23, 2020

How are you doing?

How am I doing? Good question, that's really fluctuated in the last 3 months. Overall, I'm adapting, changing and learning. Some days are very isolating, some days I feel very self-aware and connected. Overall, I would say Im doing well. I am thankful to be continuing on some sort of work/normalcy during all this.

Are you isolating with someone else, if so who (relationships, not names i.e.. father, sister, roommates, spouse, your children etc.)?

Completely alone, with my cat.

How has COVID-19 affected your home life? How are you passing the time?

I work from home now, I dont leave my apartment for much. Its really removed the community element from life. Often I feel like a prisoner in my own home, unable to go to other things. I've been outside a lot more. Since I cant do normal activities, I've done a lot of outdoor cardio and reading in the park.

How has it affected your work, education, etc.? Are you an essential worker?

I work remotely now. I am not essential however, my workplace allowed for a remote transition.

What about the outbreak and response to it has you most concerned?

People's inherent belief in everything they read online and the long term economic impacts.

Do you know someone who has or has had the virus? How has this affected them?

I have not.

How well do you think the government and other leaders are responding to the pandemic? What do you think about the local, national and international media coverage?

I think we need to be supporting local papers more. There is too much bias and targetted content online focused on gaining clicks and attention rather than factual information.

What challenges are ahead? How and how fast do you think normal life should be restored?

I think the largest challenge will be mental health and social changes long term, how do you encourage people to interact again in a health community-centric way. How do we make sure the interpersonal bonds from live interaction are not lost, especially among younger generations that are so heavily reliant on technology.

What do you think will be different after the pandemic? What do you think should be different? What will be better or worse?

I would like to think that most people have had time to align themselves, cope with previous trauma and come out a more wholesome person. Reality is this will do good and bad. Some will see how their lives have changed and do better, others will likely become more isolated and there are many long term mental health effects from prolonged isolation that I think we'll see that place a demand on mental health resources even further post this.

Do you have anything else to say about the COVID-19 pandemic?

What a time to be alive.

What is your address? [private]

[private]

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Yes
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