Isolation

For six weeks, physical connection for most Victorians was reduced to the members of our households. For many, our other encounters occurred virtually or at a safe distance. Each of us has managed isolation in different ways. Images of 1000 piece puzzles and sourdough bread now fill social media accounts. Reimagining activities digitally has provided a sense of normalcy, such as daily morning coffee and weekly dance parties on Zoom.

Isolation hasn't given everyone an opportunity to slow down and stay digitally connected with family and friends. For Victorians returning from overseas, isolation is synonymous with two weeks' mandatory quarantine in a hotel room, visited only by nursing staff testing for COVID-19. For elderly Victorians, one of the most at-risk groups for COVID-19, isolation has been particularly challenging with many confined to their homes and cut off from family and loved ones.