Entering Isolation

When the news began reporting on the coronavirus, I was still in school going to class like I always do. Our teachers, however, were starting to prepare in case the school had to close. They talked about how we could all take better care of ourselves in this situation. My family started to buy food, water, and other things we’d need so we could remain indoors. Seeing that some people were starting to catch the virus right here in the state of N.J., the Superintendent of Newark Schools decided to close schools so there would be less chance of us catching the virus.  In the first week it was very difficult, I had a lot of online work to do. In the second week I needed a distraction so I decided to go to my boyfriend's house. I also began taking pictures of the city to show how people are dealing with the coronavirus.

In this photo we can see the children's park is closed. It used to be filled with children, running, playing, and laughing with joy. Now it's empty and looks sad.

My brother is in his stroller with a protective cover that is normally used to keep him warm or his face out of the sun.  With the park railings and an empty stretch of park in the background, this photo feels like the situation we are in now. We feel trapped inside the house, and it’s a difficult situation for children. We can see on my brother's face that he doesn't understand what is happening. He wants to get out, run around and be free of the cover that is now down to protect him from the virus.

In this photo, I wanted to show how the situation is for those who still have to work to support their family or pay their rent.  A man is waiting for a bus or van to take him to his work and he is wearing a mask to protect his face. There are fewer people and cars than usual.

Two people are sitting on a bench and another person is passing by. This photo was taken in front of my school, in a park where many people go for walks, play games, and bring their children to play in the playground. With the arrival of the coronavirus, everything has changed. People are now afraid to leave their house. I have never seen the park this empty during the day.

My mother is taking my brother for a walk because he is tired of staying at home. I told her to go to the park because it's an open place and there wouldn’t be many people. The flowering tree reminds me of a sunny spring day, with no coronavirus.

The park used to have a lot of people walking, playing, or doing exercises, but now it is empty. I included the flag in the background to show how strong our country is and that it will be able to get through this situation, just like the wind blowing the flag.