Objects that have sustained us during lockdown:

All: uniforms. Four of us work as paramedics and one as an occupational therapist. 

All: flag. We are Australians who’ve been living in London for the past few years.

Cristina: pasta machine. We have a meal of home-made pasta when we’re all at home.

All: our dog. Baloo, a rescue dog, has seen us through our worst days. 

One of the most challenging aspects of Covid-19 has been following the guidance on protocols and PPE (personal protective equipment) that has changed, shift to shift, as we’ve learnt more about the disease. The way we approach patients, not only in terms of PPE, but also in finding ways to assess and examine patients while trying to be socially distant, has also changed.  But we feel fortunate to have jobs.

It’s been difficult not knowing when we’ll be able to return to Australia to see family – some of us had to cancel trips back home. We’re all avid travellers, so we’ve missed our monthly trips to Europe. Spending extra, quality time with housemates, has brought us closer – we’re often on different schedules or away so we don't usually have time to hang out together.