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Aussie Epidemiologists Give A
Glimpse Of Their Lives Under COVID 19
What Has Changed
For You Now That You Are In The Spotlight?
Highlighting the fact
that epidemiologists have come to find their profession in the
spotlight and themselves put on the spot more often because of the
COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
created a profile of how life has changed for a few Australian
epidemiologists and other experts. Excerpts from some of both the
personal and professional lifestyle changes brought about by the
pandemic and noted by these epidemiologists are described below.
No Dancing Lessons
Latrobe University’s
Hassan Vally lives alone and told the ABC that the impact of
the pandemic on persons like himself was not really considered. There
has been a social toll because of coronavirus restrictions, and
“that’s defnintely something I’ve noticed,” he said. Vally cannot
enjoy taking Latin dancing lessons anymore and wondered how long it
would be before people can do simple things that he says “are part of
being human.”
Talking with the
Press
Epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws is a member of the World
Health Organization’s Experts Advisory Panel on COVID-19. She pointed
out that “Previously I haven’t been very good at talking to the press
because I’ve been too busy with my other work.” But now she feels
interacting with the press is an important professional obligation.”
Postponing Meetings
An air quality and
health expert from Queensland University of Technology, Lidia
Morawska, said she now believes it is more socially acceptable and
she feels more comfortable telling students she won’t talk with them
if they have a cold and wants to postpone their meetings for days
later.
No Sports Travel
At Queensland
University, infectious disease specialist Paul Griffin bemoaned
the decrease in travel since a big part of his winter enjoyment
involved going to see the Brisbane Lions play in other states.
Tell us how your life
has changed significantly for you either personally or professionally
and we will share it with reader colleagues of The Epidemiology
Monitor. As editor I can share that I have had more long lost friends
contact me for advice and I have received unexpected invitations to
speak to different lay audiences. All have been enjoyable as well as
challenging.
Send your comments to:
editor@epimonitor.net
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