How are people around the world, and in Australia, coping with the coronavirus pandemic? Covid-19 Around The World, Tuesday March 31 at 8:30pm and on SBS On Demand.
As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across the world, many families have been left isolated from each other, unable to travel to visit or care for loved ones. Here are their stories.
Vesna’s father died from the coronavirus in his German retirement village on March 20. As Vesna lives in Brisbane, her brother in Serbia, neither sibling has been able to travel to Germany. She explains that there has been no funeral for her father and his ashes have been left in a crematorium. She tells Insight how the whole thing feels like a bad dream.
Vesna with her father in 2019. Source: Supplied
Valentina’s parents are located in Lombardy - a region in Northern Italy. Italy has been the worst hit by the coronavirus with the country’s death toll now the highest in the world. But Valentina, who lives in Sydney, says her parents are keeping safe in a small province in the region. For now Skype chats are all they have – and how they met their new grandchild – Roberto.
For Hossein Tavassoli he’s not sure when he’ll be able to return home to Iran to see his parents. Tavassoli had just finished his PhD in Sydney and was about to fly home to see his family for the first time in three years when his flight was cancelled. Now he’s unable to find work in Australia. Iran has been hit hard by the coronavirus and he tells Insight how his parents are scared - they've already seen people they know die from the disease.
But as Insight finds out how families and individuals are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic there are glimmers of light in the dark.
Some people have managed to connect despite being in isolation. Source: @JERMCOHEN
Brooklyn photographer, Jeremy Cohen, was in quarantine when he looked out his window and saw a girl, Tori, dancing on the roof of a neighbouring apartment building. He explains that he liked her style and so decided to send a drone over with his number on it - in a video that’s now gone viral. The pair have been on two ‘isolation’ dates – a dinner date from Jeremy’s balcony and Tori’s roof, and a second date where Jeremy was in a giant bubble. So far so good and the pair both report that they’re enjoying the human connection despite their social isolation.
With thanks to SBS Italian for collaborating on this program, and for more information on the impact of the coronavirus in Italy, go to: sbs.com.au/italian
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
