Social distancing in the digital age
Flora Riyahi has found a way to connect with friends and stay safe from COVID-19
TRURO, N.S. – Flora Riyahi enjoys her daily walk through the woods and along the streets of Truro.
In this time of self-isolation, she's found a way to cope with the loneliness imposed by COVID-19, phoning friends out-of-province to "join" her on walks and have a chat.
“It has been wonderful to keep in touch, I’m calling it our phone walk,” Riyahi said. “I always love being around people, but the isolation made me appreciate more than ever the importance of being together.”
Riyahi has used her enforced isolation as a chance to catch up with friends across Canada, reconnecting after months or even years.
“It keeps me satisfied and happy,” she said.
Staying healthy both physically and mentally is important for Riyahi, who is retired and in the age bracket that is more prone to COVID-19 infection.
As well as phone walks,
Riyahi practises yoga every day and enjoys watching movies or TV shows with her husband Hossain, to keep her mind off the news.
Most of it has been grim, especially in Iran, Riyahi’s birth country.
There, her loved ones are under lockdown as COVID19 spreads.
So far, Riyahi’s relatives in Tehran, Esfahan and Shiraz have enough food. Obtaining medication is a problem, however, due to economic sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States.
Iran is one of the countries hit worst by the pandemic, with more than 1,500 deaths as of March 21, according to the Johns Hopkins online dashboard. More than 20,000 cases have been recorded in Iran.
“My family in Iran are finding it very tough; they have been in isolation for five weeks now,” Riyahi said.
Riyahi herself first began self-isolating on March 15, two days before the Government of Nova Scotia announced it was closing bars and restricting restaurants to take-out or deliveries only.
It also forced cancellation of Persian New Year (Nowruz) celebrations in Truro this month, which Riyahi has helped organize in previous years.
Growing up in Iran, Riyahi celebrated Nowruz on the spring equinox every year, with huge gatherings of family and friends. In Truro, she normally hosts dinner parties for her friends to ring in the first day of spring.
This year, however, she observed a quiet Nowruz at home with Hossain, a far cry from her usual plans.
“COVID-19 has made us all feel unimportant and vulnerable,” said Riyahi. “It also has made everyone equal. It made me appreciate the importance of being together. I feel it has been a very humbling experience.”
“I always love being around people, but the isolation made me appreciate more than ever the importance of being together.”
Flora Riyahi