Special Report

Shutdown: The Coronavirus

Days In, Days Out: A doctor’s life during Covid-19

Covid 19 airlock sign on the floor of the unit. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

After my father’s gastroenterology ward turned into a Covid ward at the peak of the crisis, he let me shadow him for a day and discover his workplace for the first time. 

He has been working at Avicenne Hospital, in Seine-Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris, since 1984. It was founded as the Franco-Muslim hospital of the capital. This area is in one of the least privileged districts which made it one of those hit the hardest by coronavirus.

This is one doctor’s life during Covid-19: the atmosphere at the hospital and moments at home that bring us closer together.

During an online class, medical personnel demonstrate how to manage oxygen therapy. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

My father, a gastroenterologist, takes time out to learn from a Covid-19 webinar. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

A plastic sheet blocks an area of the unit shut down due to coronavirus. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

My father, Dr. Benamouzig, head of Covid ward, with two nurse supervisors. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

During an online conference with Chinese gastroenterologists, my father reads the slides in English as the doctors speak Chinese. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

Walking down the corridors with the nurse supervisor, organizing the days to come. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

“The government told us people who had masks still got sick. But when you are at war on the battle ground, you can wear a bullet-proof vest and still get hit in the head. Personally, I wouldn’t go there naked.” Surgeon, Philippe Wind. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

Big Guy is the mascot of the gastroenterology ward, now adorned with a face mask during the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

The Islamic architecture of Avicenne Hospital dates back to 1935. Until 1978, the hospital was called the Franco-Muslim Hospital. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

Gardening with my mother is part of my parents’ resolution to tidy up the whole house. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

First night of the Jewish holiday of Passover. “This is the bread of the poor that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all those who are hungry come and eat with us.” Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

For the first time my grandfather has to bless everyone in the family through Whatsapp during the Mimouna Jewish celebration on the last night of Passover. Family members are calling in from Africa, the Middle East, and France. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

Dialogue by François Cheng is one of the many books my father picked up from all the piles scattered around while he was tidying up. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

Fuji donated polaroid cameras so that each person in the unit can wear their photographs on their gowns since they cannot be recognized with their masks on. Photo by Elsa Benamouzig

This is a project of  Lori Grinker’s  NYU graduate photojournalism class.

Author


Tags


Other Stories in Special Report: Shutdown: The Coronavirus

Life returns to the East Village

Quincy Walter May 5, 2021

Reopening for Ramadan

Hassan Abbas May 4, 2021

And the band played on

Xavier Bartaburu May 2, 2021

Queens residents mourn at Covid vigil

Annie Burky May 2, 2021

Floating for Free: COVID and the Staten Island Ferry

Trish Rooney May 2, 2021

COVID-19 has left many Black and Hispanic landlords in serious debt

Norah Hogan April 24, 2021

Village East movie theater reopens to the public

Inga Parkel April 13, 2021

Chinese adoptions halted by COVID

Inga Parkel March 24, 2021

Remote is the new workplace normal

Courtney Guarino March 24, 2021

One year of COVID-19 in New York City

Michelle Diaz March 16, 2021

COVID long haulers deal with lingering symptoms and doubt

Kaity Assaf March 5, 2021

Pandemic Weddings

Chuyan Jiang March 2, 2021

Pandemic fatigue 101

Chuyan Jiang February 28, 2021

Yankee Stadium becomes COVID-19 vaccine site for Bronx residents only

Michelle Diaz February 24, 2021

The queer community rallies behind their sacred spaces closed because of COVID-19

Inga Parkel February 23, 2021

Street vendors struggle as New Yorkers and tourists stay home

Norah Hogan February 13, 2021

Keeping the faith in COVID-19

Courtney Guarino February 3, 2021

Little Italy’s restaurants need indoor dining to survive pandemic

Michelle Diaz February 2, 2021

Stray pets find homes and love during pandemic

Inga Parkel February 1, 2021

No Actors, But the Show Goes On

James Pothen December 5, 2020

New York City, a place of refuge 

Edith Rousselot December 4, 2020

Commuting in a pandemic world

Michelle Diaz December 3, 2020

Battling food insecurities during a pandemic

Courtney Guarino December 3, 2020

Adaptation

Justin McGown December 3, 2020

Honk!: Cars earn a special spot in 2020

Luana Harumi December 3, 2020

Working out looks very different during a pandemic

Chuyan Jiang December 2, 2020

One kitchen’s transformation in the age of isolation

Isabel Beer December 2, 2020

Nursing homes are filled with sadness and loss during pandemic shut down

Inga Parkel December 1, 2020

The show goes on

Norah Hogan December 1, 2020

Loyal members help keep independent cinemas afloat

Courtney Guarino December 1, 2020

Musicians deal with the reality of no live shows as covid takes center stage

Paola Michelle Ortiz December 1, 2020

 Black Friday’s Aftermath

Sughnen Yongo November 30, 2020

The Spirit of Little Haiti

Savannah Daniels October 14, 2020

Small business owners hope for future relief

Courtney Guarino October 2, 2020

Brooklyn Book Festival held virtually

Chuyan Jiang September 28, 2020

NYC Restaurant owners worry about maintaining business during winter 

Isabel Beer September 27, 2020

The pandemic is causing mental health struggles for many Latinos

Paola Michelle Ortiz September 24, 2020

Politically divided family can agree on one thing, rallies are bad during a pandemic

Michelle Diaz September 23, 2020

New Yorkers are vulnerable to mental issues due to pandemic

Sughnen Yongo September 23, 2020

Healthcare professionals struggle with Trump’s decisions during pandemic

Tori Luecking September 23, 2020

Some Americans Say “Not So Fast” on Operation Warp Speed

James Pothen September 23, 2020

Trump voters unfazed by morality of Trump’s Covid response

Norah Hogan September 22, 2020

Trump rallies continue, despite the rising Covid-19 death toll

Isabel Beer September 22, 2020

Latinos weigh in on President Trump’s management of the pandemic

Paola Michelle Ortiz September 21, 2020

Fast track vaccine causes fear

Kaity Assaf September 21, 2020

It’s business as usual at McSorley’s Old Ale House

Tori Luecking September 20, 2020

Trump defiance to hold indoor rallies amidst COVID-19 sparks polarized responses 

Courtney Guarino September 20, 2020

NYC Cafes and restaurants try and survive the pandemic

Isabel Beer September 19, 2020

A typical afternoon at Shade Bar NYC

Kaity Assaf September 19, 2020

West Village staple, Caffe Reggio, remains open for outdoor dining in the wake of coronavirus restrictions 

Norah Hogan September 19, 2020