Medical students are partaking in the fight against the coronavirus. Medical intern Norah (not her real name) from Nijmegen works in the nursing department of a hospital in Brabant. For Vox, she is keeping a diary. ’You can't see who is who, because of the protective clothing. I try to recognise my colleagues by the shoes they are wearing.’

Saturday, 28th of March – New rules

’A new rule has been put into effect: patients aren’t allowed visitors anymore. Except when their health has declined to the point at which they are lying on their death bed. Or it has improved to the point at which they are about to go home. In these cases, two visitors may simultaneously enter. Other visitors have to wait outside, on the pavement. We sometimes make an exception. For example, when a mother and two daughters are visiting a sick husband and father. We are trying to keep it as humane as possible.’

‘The rules concerning the protective clothing are loosening. Not because the virus is less infectious, but simply because the threat of a shortage. For instance, while the wearing of a hairnet had been mandatory during the first days, that’s not the case anymore.’

Sunday, 29th of March – Emotional encounter

‘Today, a woman picked up her husband, who was allowed to go home. He was doing well. Both were around eighty and had been married for a long time. Because of the infection, they had lived separated from each other for a week, in big uncertainty because of the virus. I was witness to the moment when they could finally hold each other again. It was very moving.’

’They could finally hold each other again’

‘An increasing amount of patients is being transferred to hospitals elsewhere in the country, so our ICU is not overburdened. Until now, it has been going well. We still have enough beds available.’

Tuesday, 30st of March – Recognising shoes

‘Some people have to put in so much effort and endure so much pain in order to breath. They are telling me that they would rather die. I’m tell them to hang in there, and that they will receive painkillers from the doctor soon.’

‘On the ward, you can’t see who is who, because everyone is wearing an apron, a mask, and safety glasses. And sometimes, on top of that, a hair net. You can read the name of the person and their function on their name tag. Without these, it’s impossible to tell the difference between a medical intern, a nurse, and the doctors. Because of that, I try to recognise my colleagues by the shoes they are wearing.’

‘Patients also have a hard time with that. This morning, someone who was about to go home saw the doctor who had been treating her for the first time outside of the ward. He wasn’t wearing protective clothing and she didn’t recognise him.’

Later this week, Norah’s new diary will be released on Voxweb. Read the first diary here.