While so many of us are stuck indoors baking bread and doing puzzles, there are those risking their health and getting out and about to get essential work done.
On his daily walks outdoors in West London, photographer Seb Higgins has been snapping pictures of these key workers.
He’s created a photo series celebrating their hard work and capturing a snapshot of what life is like amid the coronavirus pandemic.
From postal workers to those manning the pharmacies so you can pick up your prescription, these are people going above and beyond to keep things moving.
These are their stories.
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Wesley
Wesley is working for Parcelforce, continuing to deliver items to businesses and individuals.
He says work has been a light relief and deliveries have never been easier but is worried as he is caring for his elderly mother.
‘The workload may have gone up and the roads are eerily spooky, but on the flip side it makes for a quicker, more pleasant ride through the streets of London,’ Wesley adds.
Frances
Frances is a carer at a nursing home in Hounslow.
Work and home life have been intense, especially as she’s been shielding her vulnerable son, Ben, who has Down’s syndrome.
‘It’s been a challenging time mentally,’ says Frances. ‘Working with vulnerable people, protecting Ben and trying to stay positive has been a difficult balancing act.
‘Loving words from my family have helped but I miss the hugs.’
Sulejman
Sulejman, who owns a shop in Shepherd’s Bush, has maintained a steady stock of eggs and toilet roll throughout lockdown.
He says: ‘I can’t complain, work has been good and I appreciate the interaction with customers. We just have to keep going.’
Mandeep
‘Even though it’s been a difficult and busy time at work, it’s easy compared to home-schooling my 9 year old son,’ says Mandeep, who works at a Tesco Express.
Davide
Davide previously transported camera equipment around London but has now converted to delivering fruit and veg.
He says: ‘Our company, Lift and Shoot, has reformed itself and I’m now delivering groceries for my friend’s food market in Acton.’
Yolly
Yolando is a postman who’s enjoying the exercise he gets from doing the local round – but he feels bad for the Royal Mail drivers.
‘The current restrictions mean that the drivers have almost double the workload,’ Yolly explains. ‘I’m one of the lucky ones who delivers the smaller packages in the local neighbourhood, whilst they have the larger ones covering a huge area on their own.’
Elia
Elia works as a chef at the recently reopened Persian restaurant, Sufi.
He’s hoping that the pandemic will bring about a shift in ideals.
Elia says: ‘I think in the long run we’ll see things differently. It will teach us to be thankful and appreciate our loved ones.’
Annick
Annick works as a carer, visiting people in their own homes. The number of patients she looks after daily has dramatically risen due to staff shortages, visiting 10 on the busiest days.
‘The amount of work doesn’t worry me but being kept in the dark over which patients have contracted the virus does,’ she says.
Errol
Errol is a bus conductor in South West London. He says he feels a real sense of camaraderie when dropping off NHS staff.
But it’s challenging to balance looking after his four children with working.
‘The goodwill shown to one another at the moment is great,’ he says. ‘It’s been nice to receive appreciation and to know you’re playing a part in the fight.’
Mustafa
Mustafa, who works in a pharmacy, says people have slowly started to accept this new normal.
He says: ‘Things have calmed down over the last couple of weeks, after a month of panic buying hopeful remedies and immunity boosters.’
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