Meals give glimpse of post-Olympic quarantine

The Tokyo Olympics concluded Aug. 8, and for most of the thousands of athletes, officials and media who attended, things are slowly getting back to normal.

But some returned to countries that require them to isolate in hotels as a coronavirus precaution. For them, normalcy is still a ways off.

Quarantined Associated Press photographers in Shanghai; Hong Kong; Sydney; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Taguig, Philippines; and Taipei, Taiwan; shared their experiences as they wait to go home. Their required hotel quarantines range from a week in Hong Kong to three weeks in Shanghai. Most are two weeks.

To stave off boredom, they read, work, exercise, chat with friends and family and watch lots of Netflix.

Food might provide a welcome distraction, but it’s often unappetizing. Some can order takeout once a day at specific times or from specific restaurants; others are limited to whatever food is delivered to them, like it or not.

In Sydney, photographer Mark Baker’s wife was able to drop off food, but he couldn’t hug her. He could, however, catch a glimpse of her from his room.

The AP photographers took pictures of their hotel rooms and one day’s worth of breakfasts, lunches and dinners, providing a window into their lives in quarantine. All say the inconvenience is worth it to keep their friends and family safe.

The required hotel quarantines of Associated Press photographers range from a week in Hong Kong to three weeks in Shanghai. Most are two weeks.

(AP/Johnson Lai) Food sits on a desk Friday at a quarantine hotel facility in Taipei, Taiwan.

(AP/Kin Cheung) Water sits on a table in a room Friday at an isolation hotel in Hong Kong.

(AP/Vincent Thian) Camera gear sits Friday in a room during quarantine at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

(AP/Mark Baker) An exercise bike sits Friday in a hotel isolation room in Sydney.

(AP/Andy Wong) Breakfast, lunch and dinner sit on a table Friday at the Wassim hotel used for foreigners to stay during a period of health quarantine in Shanghai.

(AP/Kin Cheung) Breakfast, lunch and dinner are displayed Friday at an isolation hotel in Hong Kong.

(AP/Vincent Thian) Breakfast, lunch and dinner are displayed Friday at a quarantine hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

(AP/Mark Baker) Breakfast, lunch and dinner sit in an isolation room in Sydney.

(AP/Johnson Lai) Breakfast, lunch and dinner sit on a table Friday at a quarantine hotel facility in Taipei.

(AP/Aaron Favila) Breakfast, lunch and dinner sit on a table Friday at a quarantine hotel facility in Taguig, Philippines.