Matthew and Cristina. New York, USA

Matthew is an editor who works from home, so his daily life hasn’t changed dramatically, but Cristina is a college professor, and lockdown means that all of her encounters with students and colleagues are now happening remotely. New York has been on “pause” since March 23, and there’s no word on when the city might reopen—not until May at the earliest.

“At this point, being able to stay home still feels like a chance to slow down and nest together. We’re lucky to live in Greenwich Village, New York’s most vital neighborhood, teeming with people and creativity and energy. But under lockdown, the city’s inequality is starker than ever. New York’s most “essential workers”—the cashiers, stockroom workers, doormen, delivery drivers, mass transit employees—are low-wage workers, mostly people of color and often immigrants and women, who are being asked to endanger themselves for our city’s survival. Every night, when we stand on our balcony, joining other New Yorkers to applaud our healthcare workers, we are cheering for them as well—and hoping that this crisis helps bring into being a more just world.”