Covid-19 Begins - Seoul to Canberra, 2020
- Dr Roslyn Russell
- Apr 22
- 1 min read
2020
Abstract
This article recounts a journey from Australia to South Korea in February 2020, at the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, when global awareness of the virus was still emerging. Through visits to museums and everyday encounters in Seoul, it contrasts the high level of public health preparedness in South Korea with the relative normalcy experienced upon return to Australia.
Observations of mask-wearing, temperature screening, and public messaging reveal how quickly precautionary measures were adopted in Seoul, even before widespread global disruption. In contrast, the return to Sydney and Canberra highlights a lag in response, with little visible concern or preventative action at that stage.
The article reflects on the rapid escalation of the pandemic in the weeks that followed, as everyday life shifted dramatically across Australia. Through personal experience, it captures a moment of transition, documenting the uncertainty, changing behaviours, and early impacts of a global crisis as it unfolded.