THE NOTEBOOK
OF SElF-ISOLATION
Spanish photographer Rafael Trapiello have been staying self-isolated with his family in a country house for almost a month already. Since the scheduled assignments were postponed for an uncertain period, for the moment he is planning new projects abroad, and documents everything happening around.
— In Spain we have not only social distancing, but mandatory confinement imposedby the government since March 14. Classes at schools and universities had been suspended three days earlier, so my wife, daughter, and I left Madrid to our family house in the country. We already had the strong belief that the confinement would take place soon.
As we arrived to our country house, my parents in-law, my brothers-in-law and my nephew were waiting for us. They all had come a few days earlier. Already all together we decided to maintain social distance between us, specially between my parents in-law and the children. As we came from Madrid, which was the zero zone of the epidemic in Spain we isolate ourselves in the house for 14 days. Only one person, always the same, was going out to buy some food when necessary. After 14 days we divide the exits to the supermarket.
As we arrived to our country house, my parents in-law, my brothers-in-law and my nephew were waiting for us. They all had come a few days earlier. Already all together we decided to maintain social distance between us, specially between my parents in-law and the children. As we came from Madrid, which was the zero zone of the epidemic in Spain we isolate ourselves in the house for 14 days. Only one person, always the same, was going out to buy some food when necessary. After 14 days we divide the exits to the supermarket.
— How has social distancing affected your daily life?
DAY 1
DAY 2
— In Spain we have not only social distancing, but mandatory confinement imposedby the government since March 14. Classes at schools and universities had been suspended three days earlier, so my wife, daughter, and I left Madrid to our family house in the country. We already had the strong belief that the confinement would take place soon.
As we arrived to our country house, my parents in-law, my brothers-in-law and my nephew were waiting for us. They all had come a few days earlier. Already all together we decided to maintain social distance between us, specially between my parents in-law and the children. As we came from Madrid, which was the zero zone of the epidemic in Spain we isolate ourselves in the house for 14 days. Only one person, always the same, was going out to buy some food when necessary. After 14 days we divide the exits to the supermarket.
As we arrived to our country house, my parents in-law, my brothers-in-law and my nephew were waiting for us. They all had come a few days earlier. Already all together we decided to maintain social distance between us, specially between my parents in-law and the children. As we came from Madrid, which was the zero zone of the epidemic in Spain we isolate ourselves in the house for 14 days. Only one person, always the same, was going out to buy some food when necessary. After 14 days we divide the exits to the supermarket.
— How has social distancing affected your daily life?
DAY 1
DAY 2
My daughter and my nephew are three and five years old respectively. Being so little means they need almost constant attention, so we grown ups have to make rotations to take care of them while others work.
DAY 3
DAY 4
We are lucky, since the house we are in is large and has a huge garden, so, unlike most of our children's friends, they can enjoy the outdoors every day. In my case, as most of my assignments have been suspended, except for my photography classes that I teach online, I can only shoot photographs here, so I am working in a confinement diary.
My daughter and my nephew are three and five years old respectively. Being so little means they need almost constant attention, so we grown ups have to make rotations to take care of them while others work.
DAY 3
DAY 4
We are lucky, since the house we are in is large and has a huge garden, so, unlike most of our children's friends, they can enjoy the outdoors every day. In my case, as most of my assignments have been suspended, except for my photography classes that I teach online, I can only shoot photographs here, so I am working in a confinement diary.
— The behavior of the vast majority of my compatriots is being exemplary. In this sense, the WHO has publicly said that they are touched by the behavior of the Spanish people, as well as by the government's determination. At first, when the virus had not yet hit very hard here, most people thought this crisis was overkill. When classes were suspended in schools, the parks and terraces filled with families to enjoy the outdoors, ignoring authorities' recommendations of social distancing. Fortunately, only four days later the government decreedthe mandatory confinement of the entire population. If this decision had been taken later, public health would have collapsed. Actually it has come very close to collapse.
— How are your compatriots adapting to the new conditions in Spain?
DAY 5
DAY 6
Actually, it has come very close to collapse. After more than 130,000 people officially infected (There are some estimatesthat reach several million infected) and about 15,000 dead, now all Spaniards know that COVID19 was no joke. If someone still does not believe it, all they have to do is look at the USA. Only two weeks ago their president was making jokes about the virus, comparing it with the stational influenza, and nowadays they are facing their worst crisis since the Great Recession in 1929.
— The behavior of the vast majority of my compatriots is being exemplary. In this sense, the WHO has publicly said that they are touched by the behavior of the Spanish people, as well as by the government's determination. At first, when the virus had not yet hit very hard here, most people thought this crisis was overkill. When classes were suspended in schools, the parks and terraces filled with families to enjoy the outdoors, ignoring authorities' recommendations of social distancing. Fortunately, only four days later the government decreedthe mandatory confinement of the entire population. If this decision had been taken later, public health would have collapsed.
— How are your compatriots adapting to the new conditions in Spain?
DAY 5
DAY 6
Actually, it has come very close to collapse. After more than 130,000 people officially infected (There are some estimatesthat reach several million infected) and about 15,000 dead, now all Spaniards know that COVID19 was no joke. If someone still does not believe it, all they have to do is look at the USA. Only two weeks ago their president was making jokes about the virus, comparing it with the stational influenza, and nowadays they are facing their worst crisis since the Great Recession in 1929.
We are worried about the economic crisis that will come later, but we know that the only way to overcome it is to overcome as soon as possible the health crisis. Time will tell if we were right.
DAY 7
DAY 8
We are worried about the economic crisis that will come later, but we know that the only way to overcome it is to overcome as soon as possible the health crisis. Time will tell if we were right.
DAY 7
DAY 8
— It is very unlikely that I will be able to travel outside my country in the next year, or if I can I believe that it will be with many restrictions. Hopefully I'm wrong, but I don't think this crisis will be solved in a couple of months. So now, while I continue investigating the KARLAG to prepare the work on the field when they let us travel again, I will try to continue photographing here in Spain. For the moment, doing my journal of the confinement,later on, I am thinking on photo essays that'll have to do with this new challenge to which not only my country but the whole world is facing.
— How has coronavirus influenced your work? Maybe you have an idea of a new project?
DAY 9
— It is very unlikely that I will be able to travel outside my country in the next year, or if I can I believe that it will be with many restrictions. Hopefully I'm wrong, but I don't think this crisis will be solved in a couple of months. So now, while I continue investigating the KARLAG to prepare the work on the field when they let us travel again, I will try to continue photographing here in Spain. For the moment, doing my journal of the confinement,later on, I am thinking on photo essays that'll have to do with this new challenge to which not only my country but the whole world is facing.
— How has coronavirus influenced your work? Maybe you have an idea of a new project?
DAY 9
Just as COVID-19 appeared, I was preparing a photo essay on Soviet gulag system labor camps in Kazakhstan. But this new reality has changed everything.
Just as COVID-19 appeared, I was preparing a photo essay on Soviet gulag system labor camps in Kazakhstan. But this new reality has changed everything.
DAY 10
DAY 11
DAY 12
DAY 10
DAY 11
DAY 12
— I am convinced that I have been one of those who have passed the disease with almost no symptoms, although they never tested me. About a month ago I had a little fever and chills. The next day it passed, so I didn't take it seriously. But three days after I completely lost my taste and smell without any apparently reason. It took me about a week to get them back. Since then I have felt perfectly normal. So, as far as I know I am totally healed.
— Please share your own experience related to the quarantine/ self-isolation/ social distancing. Maybe you've already faced the virus?
DAY 13
DAY 14
Anosmia, also known as smell blindness, is one of the most characteristic symptoms of COVID19. Two out of three test positives in Germany have reported this symptom. For this reason, some friends of mine who are medical doctors are sure that I had the disease. And probably also my daughter and my wife, considering that the virus is extremely contagious. We have been lucky not to experience severe symptoms.
— I am convinced that I have been one of those who have passed the disease with almost no symptoms, although they never tested me. About a month ago I had a little fever and chills. The next day it passed, so I didn't take it seriously. But three days after I completely lost my taste and smell without any apparently reason. It took me about a week to get them back. Since then I have felt perfectly normal. So, as far as I know I am totally healed.
— Please share your own experience related to the quarantine/ self-isolation/ social distancing. Maybe you've already faced the virus?
DAY 13
DAY 14
Today we know that anosmia, also known as smell blindness, is one of the most characteristic symptoms of COVID19. Two out of three test positives in Germany have reported this symptom. For this reason, some friends of mine who are medical doctors are sure that I had the disease. And probably also my daughter and my wife, considering that the virus is extremely contagious. We have been lucky not to experience severe symptoms.
When I first felt smell blindness I spent two days trying to contact the health authorities to report, but they were so saturatedand overwhelmedthat I never succeeded. Due to civic responsibility, I decided not to have any social contact beyond my family members, even before the government's sanitary recommendations arrived.
DAY 15
DAY 16
DAY 17
When I first felt smell blindness I spent two days trying to contact the health authorities to report, but they were so saturatedand overwhelmedthat I never succeeded. Due to civic responsibility, I decided not to have any social contact beyond my family members, even before the government's sanitary recommendations arrived.
DAY 15
DAY 16
DAY 17
Scientists insist that the main problem of this virus is the capacity of infection by asymptomatic people and the enormous infection rate of it. I have an anecdote that can explain this fact quite well. A couple of friends of mine sing together in a choir. The choir consists of 58 people. Before mandatory confinement, they all went to rehearse together one day. Two days later 40 of the 58 choir members had the coronavirus, all of them officially tested.
My recommendation to everyone is to be very aware to any symptoms, however slight they may seem, and on any suspicion of having the virus, isolate yourselves. It is the only way to stop infections.
My recommendation to everyone is to be very aware to any symptoms, however slight they may seem, and on any suspicion of having the virus, isolate yourselves. It is the only way to stop infections.
Scientists insist that the main problem of this virus is the capacity of infection by asymptomatic people and the enormous infection rate of it. I have an anecdote that can explain this fact quite well. A couple of friends of mine sing together in a choir. The choir consists of 58 people. Before mandatory confinement, they all went to rehearse together one day. Two days later 40 of the 58 choir members had the coronavirus, all of them officially tested.
My recommendation to everyone is to be very aware to any symptoms, however slight they may seem, and on any suspicion of having the virus, isolate yourselves. It is the only way to stop infections.
My recommendation to everyone is to be very aware to any symptoms, however slight they may seem, and on any suspicion of having the virus, isolate yourselves. It is the only way to stop infections.
DAY 18
DAY 19
DAY 18
DAY 19
TO BE CONTINUED...