COVID-19 Diaries: Thai Community Under COVID

Images of ‘Meal In The Box’ - a volunteer group who are cooking meals for the Thai community in Sydney.

Much of the Thai community have lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 led downturn of the economy. Many are young students, who are locked in to paying school fees and have no way of returning home with all international flights banned. The government is still not offering any form of support for overseas students or temporary migrants, who are now living with no income and are becoming increasingly desperate. Some are going hungry.

And many have been experiencing anti-Asian discrimination and racism, being abused on the street and on public transport.

In response, Thai chef, Dan Wichitakul, banded together friends and colleagues and formed ‘Meal In The Box’, a group who are cooking and delivering hundreds of meals to needy students from the community, 7 days a week. Newtown Thai, on King Street, whose business has seen a substantial drop since the coronavirus hit, has offered the group their premises to use. Food is being provided through local donations.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Flattening The Curve

Medical advice tells us that until a vaccine is found, social distancing, self-isolation and staying at home are the only ways to ‘flatten the curve’ and avoid the continuing global pandemic that is COVID-19.

Data from the John Hopkins University website shows that across the world, rates of COVID-19 deaths and infections seem to levelling out.

However, there are still fears that many countries have yet to feel the full brunt of the virus, especially in Africa and in parts of South America, and that a second wave could be imminent. Reliable testing and reporting of data is also an issue.

Meanwhile in Australia, social distancing regulations are being relaxed as the government tries to reignite the nose-diving economy and reduce the mental health pressures related to home isolation.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Live Streamed Services at Auburn Gallipoli Mosque

Photographs of the Iman of the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque live-streaming the traditional call to prayer and recitation of the Quran to adherents over the Internet.

The COVID-19 social distancing laws which ban mass gatherings have meant places of worship have had to close their doors to their congregations.

Normally, the the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque would be filled to its 1,000 person capacity on any given Friday, but especially during the holy month of Ramadan. Instead, today, the prayer rooms were empty, except for a few skeleton staff. So, the Mosque has turned to technology to maintain its religious obligations by live-streaming its services to the faithful stuck at home.

It is also providing more worldly services, delivering essential food drops to the elderly who have had to self-isolate.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Observations of a City Under Lockdown

A photographic record of a day’s observations of a city under lockdown:

  • Two homeless men read the latest news feed at Martin Place

  • Signs warning of social distancing adorn a quieter than usual Pitt Street Mall as lunchtime workers go about their daily business

  • A view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge down a deserted city street

  • Street posters urge good health practice

  • Discarded rubber gloves lie on a back street

  • Masked teenaged girls glued to their mobile phones

  • A sign outside a shop in Newtown alerts customers of a two person limit inside

  • Orange crosses on the ground act as social distancing markers outside a shop

  • A ‘For Lease’ sign sits in a window of a small business that has just closed down

  • A padlocked door signals the closure of one of the hardest hit businesses: small pubs and clubs

  • Mandatory social distancing signs at construction worksites

  • Water bubblers have been shut off around the city as a public health measure

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Opera From the Rooftops

An opera singer performs from 10 stories up on a roof top to locals below in Kings Cross, as a way to help alleviate some of the pressures of self-isolation and social distancing being experienced by the community.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Lidcombe

A street sign in Lidcombe, thanking the work of nurses during the pandemic.

Long undervalued and underpaid, healthcare workers are finally becoming recognised for their frontline services in the battle against COVID-19.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Escalators

A lone masked figure travels down the escalators in an otherwise deserted up-market shopping mall in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.

While the economic impacts of COVID-19 have hit small businesses the hardest, top-end brands haven’t been immune from financial pain either.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Food Hampers for the Needy

Boxed food hampers decorated with good-will messages from primary school children are piled up high, waiting for pick-up and delivery to those short on food and in need.

The initiative is part of a social support response to the devastating economic effects of COVID-19, run by the Addison Road Community Centre and Food Pantry in Marrickville in Sydney’s inner west. The service, which relies mostly on volunteers and donations, has received an overwhelming demand for food hampers from the unemployed, Aboriginal communities, refugees, international students and many others without adequate government support, and who have suddenly found themselves financially vulnerable as a result of the epidemic.

Pictured here also are international tertiary students, mostly from Colombia and elsewhere in Latin America, who are stranded in Australia without flights back home, and with little or no work. They are not entitled to any government support whatsoever. Around 100 students lined up for food hampers on the day these photographs were taken.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Home on the Streets

A rough sleeper takes shelter under the awning of a bank spruiking home loans, on Pitt Street in Sydney’s CBD.

While the government is telling people to self-isolate at home, a new wave of homeless people is appearing on the city’s streets as businesses close, job losses hit record numbers and mental health is put under intense pressure as a result of COVID-19. The homeless are some of the most vulnerable people at risk to the virus. With winter around the corner, conditions for those without a roof over their heads is about to get even more difficult.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: The Party Is Over

A man in a face mask walks past a party decorations store that has closed down as a result of the economic crash caused by the COVID-19 virus.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Social Distancing Signs

A collection of images of social distancing signs and markers taken over the last week or two.

Although the government is slowly opening back up some areas for public use, such as beaches, and flagging the return of schools and professional sport (such as the NRL), they also warn that social distancing will be enforced until at least the end of this year.

Meanwhile, Tokyo and Singapore, previously praised for their low rates of COVID-19, are now experiencing a resurgence of cases as fears of a second wave spread across the world.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Taxi Cab

A taxi with a sanitising sign in its window waits on the curb for its next ride.

Some taxi cabs are now offering complete interior sanitising after each customer in an effort to attract business at a time when many people are self-isolating.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: International Student Crisis

Household items are piled up on the street curb outside former student accomodation, suggesting a hurried and thorough departure.

With universities in partial shutdown, with no flights in or out of Australia, and with service and manual labour jobs drying up, many international students have been forced out of accomodation and work, and into poverty with no way of getting back to their home countries.

The government has yet to provide any support.

Some have turned to charities and street kitchens to survive.

More to come on this story.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: 24/7 Street Kitchen and Safe Space

Social distancing laws has meant that community support services have had to innovate.

The Sydney 24/7 Street Kitchen and Safe Space are now distributing hot meals and food hampers to homeless people in Martin Place with a specially devised trolley which can be pushed out and retracted, resulting in zero physical contact. This ensures that both volunteers and the homeless remain safe.

Homeless people are some of the most vulnerable to COVID-19. Without a home, they cannot self-isolate. While the government has provided some additional temporary accomodation, many are still without a roof over their head and many still lack the essentials, like food and basic health care.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Bondi Beach Testing Station

Images of the pop-up drive through COVID-19 testing station at Bondi Beach.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Food Hamper Deliveries to Refugees

Boxes of groceries were delivered to the refugee community around Sydney’s west yesterday as part of a program to support those most impacted by the economic collapse as a result of COVID-19.

The scheme is run through the Food Pantry and the Addison Road Community Centre.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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COVID-19 Diaries: A View of the Quay

NSW Government and Transport signage about the coronavirus at Circular Quay train station, with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background.

Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.

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