TikTok & Isolation: How one flat’s self-isolation post went viral

Platform writer Ellie Danemann interviews the NTU household that went viral for a TikTok video showcasing life in a student household with COVID-19.

Amelia White, Fabiana Bilocca, Megan Austin, Jenny Pritchett, Imani Botham Javiera Altamirano and Esmee Gibbons, aged 19 to 21, are all students at Nottingham Trent University and started isolating in their flat after taking coronavirus tests.

I hope you guys are feeling okay! When did you guys get your tests results?

Javiera: Wednesday 30 (September) and we did our tests on Tuesday 29 so it was pretty quick. The closest one we got was Leicester but we kept refreshing the page until eventually the Beeston one was available. After taking the tests it was just a waiting game, we all felt fine and were shocked when more than half came back positive.

What were the tests like to take?

Jenny: Horrible! It was because we had to do it ourselves so it was quite difficult.

Javiera: We had to put a swab down our throats to swab our tonsils then a swab up the noise – it was pretty uncomfortable.

Megan: The testing place wasn’t very close; we could only get there by car. Nottingham Trent doesn’t have it’s own testing centre which made it harder to get tested quickly.

What gave you the idea for the TikTok?

Megan: We saw a tik tok doing something similar and we wanted to hop on the trend too.

Javiera: We thought it was something exciting to do with the house and thought why not! We had seen people at Manchester Met doing it so that’s why we decided to make one. We made it as a laugh and didn’t expect it to blow up.

How did you feel when it started getting views?

Javiera: Well it’s got 13k and we’re all too ill to be really excited.

Jenny: I wasn’t too bothered just thought it was a laugh!

So how many people live in your house and how many people are positive?

Javiera: So there are seven of us and five of us are positive. The positive housemates started losing their taste and feeling really achy by Friday.

Imani: It’s just me and Javiera that aren’t positive.

How is it self-isolating with so many people in your house?

Imani: Hard but fortunate to have each other.

Megan: It was a great bonding experience!

Javiera: It’s been really hard to get food but luckily some of our parents have sent food to us. It took us 3 days to get a delivery slot which was quite stressful.

Esme: Isolating in a house is a lot better than those who have to isolate in university accommodation. In a house we have a lot more space, we have a terrace and a lounge room, it isn’t a small flat. We’re also able to play wii which has kept us entertained and luckily when it’s sunny we can go out to the garden.

How has this impacted your University experience?

Javiera: We have missed out quite a lot of events as we haven’t been able to leave our house. We miss the social side. Luckily our lectures are all online so we haven’t actually missed much.

Are you guys feeling any better?

Everyone: Yes! Just drained.

Javiera: No one has very serious symptoms, everyone just feels quite under the weather. We’re lucky to not have serious symptoms but it’s very scary to know how many people are out there symptomless and spreading it. If Esme hadn’t fallen ill, we would have all been going on with our lives without knowing we had corona.

Has Nottingham Trent University been helpful?

Javiera: Not really, as we are unsure if they are aware of our corona cases.

Jenny: We haven’t heard anything from the University.

Megan: I think they should get their own testing centre to make it more accessible for students, especially students in accommodation so they can get easily tested.

When will you be able to leave isolation? Are you guys excited to get out again?

Megan: Thursday, and we’re pretty excited to be able to leave our home. We will definitely go for a family meal as a house. Luckily we are not freshers and we know a bit more about each other so the isolation hasn’t been too bad.

Nottingham Trent University students are expected to fill in the Track and Trace form on NTU’s website to inform the university that they are self isolating.

By Ellie Danemann