Why is isolation such a burden for people.
Isolation in a tin roof shanty with no sanitary facilities - okay!
Isolation in a dry, heated/cooled western home with electricity and running water likely with TV and internet? What IS the problem?
We've really enjoyed time at home despite the worries about this virus. Its been a staycation. Games, TV, music, books, good food, and chores. Also - hobbies.
For us it's the compounding problem of being required to work from home while raising a toddler in a confined space with no day care or external support.
That is crushing, for us. Our daughter doesn't understand why she can't see her friend across the yard, or play at daycare or use the playground (now encased in 'Police Tape'), her world has been confined to a few rooms and walks around the block.
At the same time we both must work, but with many of the necessary tools (physical and virtual) less available to us. Wife spends 4-5 hours in virtual meetings each day but document sharing is incredibly problematic... she can't just scan, print and share with everyone. Lots of the people she's meeting with lack strong internet connections and/or technical saavy. Every 'meeting' begins with several minutes of group tech-support and inevitably at least one or two people are listening on cellphones, unable to fully participate. Accessing the secure server isn't an option, so files have to made through special requisitions made to the poor IT guys that are still in the building.... which is a lot like asking someone else to locate an item in your home...
I'm furloughed but still expected/requires to perform many of my duties, particularly to my students. That's particularly frustrating knowing I have an obligation to do quality work but will not ever be compensated for the time I spend now.
Then there;'s the very heavy emotional toll, which neither of us really expected. We have elderly parents who we can't see, and who can't see their grandchildren. Spouse has a frail grandfather who very could pass away before we're allowed to visit. I have three family members working on the front lines of COVID and I know their exposure risk is sky-high. And then there's all the other close friends we can't physically be there for; my friend recovering from a divorce, my BIL who's struggling with a colicky infant, etc. Video chat is good, but it's hard when you know there's no way you can actually be there in person.
In short - we've never had so much on our plate for so little compensation or support.