COVID-19 Australia: Sophie Cousins Talks About Her Experience Covering Covid-19
Sophie Cousins is a freelance journalist and a CFWIJ fellow. She usually reports on developments in South Asia and the Middle East, but has been in Australia during the coronavirus outbreak. For the past eight years of living and working abroad, she describes coming back to Australia- her home country - as a “whirlwind”. Sophie has recently received a grant from the National Geographic Society to report on how Indigenous communities across the country are protecting themselves against Covid-19.
“In many ways I feel that I am a visitor in my own country because I have been away for so long... I have found people to be very open to speaking with me,” she said, when talking about reporting on Covid-19 from Australia regarding the Indigenous communities.
Sophie is a health journalist, so reporting on Covid-19 is not different for her. However, what she finds contrasting is the fact that fast things are moving. Therefore, instead of getting caught up in the news cycle, she is focusing on the long-term impact of Covid-19.
According to Sophie, Australia has fared well in controlling the novel Coronavirus, as the country might ease up the restrictions imposed.
“Unlike some other countries, Australia put medical experts at the center of the response and chose to protect people over the economy. There's less than 7000 confirmed cases in the whole country. Statistics are updated every day while the premier of New South Wales (NSW), the state I'm currently in, gives media briefings every day,” she informed CFWIJ.
Sophie is currently reporting on the ground from the remote and rural communities in NSW. After she came back to Australia from overseas, she self-isolated for 14 days and also conducted a Covid-19 test before stepping out to report in NSW.
“The community I'm currently reporting from does not have any confirmed cases of the virus and we of course want to ensure that it remains that way because community members are highly vulnerable. When speaking with people, I'm ensuring social distancing requirements are maintained and no hands are shaken. I carry hand sanitizer with me and am washing my hands regularly,” she said.
Sophie said that all non-essential travel is banned in Australia at the moment. One is only allowed to travel for work, only if they cannot do it at home. Since Sophie had to travel for the reporting trip she printed out her contract with the National Geographic Society to avoid any restrictions and obstacles on her way.
Sophie has been trying to counter the overwhelming news and updates on coronavirus by exercising daily. She calls it her “one non-negotiable” activity among a few others to keep her mind and body on track.
“Even if it's 20 minutes on the side of the road, it's better than nothing. When I arrived back in Australia to cover Covid-19, I felt totally overwhelmed by the news cycle and got into a really bad habit of reading the news before going to sleep. I would wake up feeling utterly exhausted and without much motivation to do anything. But that passed. In recent weeks I have made a point of turning my phone off at 9:30 pm and reading a fiction book or listening to a podcast before bed. I've found that has really helped,” Sophie said when responding to CFWIJ.
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