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Photos: In Mumbai, a photojournalist documents life in Covid-19 quarantine

At the urging of health authorities, more than 160 journalists were tested in Mumbai on April 18. Fifty-three tested positive, including many who were asymptomatic. Photographer Rafiq Maqbool tested positive for the coronavirus on April 20. Placed in isolation, Maqbool documented his stay in a hotel tuned quarantine centre.

Updated on: May 01, 2020 12:18 PM IST

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A civic worker seen through the peephole of Associated Press photographer Rafiq Maqbool's room, as he waits to fill a swab test form, at the hotel where Maqbool was in quarantine along with dozens of other journalists in Mumbai, on April 24, 2020. He had to leave his wife and children home alone to deal with a sealed building, anxious relatives and the stigma of being related to someone who had caught the virus. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

Published on May 01, 2020 12:18 PM

A civic worker seen through the peephole of Associated Press photographer Rafiq Maqbool's room, as he waits to fill a swab test form, at the hotel where Maqbool was in quarantine along with dozens of other journalists in Mumbai, on April 24, 2020. He had to leave his wife and children home alone to deal with a sealed building, anxious relatives and the stigma of being related to someone who had caught the virus. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

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Rafiq Maqbool's mask hangs on a good luck charm made by his daughter, in the hotel room he was quarantined in Mumbai, on April 23, 2020. “Keep it with you, daddy. We made you a good luck charm. It has special powers,” Maqbool's younger daughter said after he tested positive for COVID-19 and was leaving home. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

Published on May 01, 2020 12:18 PM

Rafiq Maqbool's mask hangs on a good luck charm made by his daughter, in the hotel room he was quarantined in Mumbai, on April 23, 2020. “Keep it with you, daddy. We made you a good luck charm. It has special powers,” Maqbool's younger daughter said after he tested positive for COVID-19 and was leaving home. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

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Maqbool reads the Quran on his phone during the first day of Ramzan in his hotel room on April 25,2020. When Maqbool learned of his initial test results, he cut short an assignment and drove home. Fear and despair had gripped his mind then. In quarantine he turned to prayer, which helped him feel better. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

Published on May 01, 2020 12:18 PM

Maqbool reads the Quran on his phone during the first day of Ramzan in his hotel room on April 25,2020. When Maqbool learned of his initial test results, he cut short an assignment and drove home. Fear and despair had gripped his mind then. In quarantine he turned to prayer, which helped him feel better. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

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Maqbool spent hours looking out the window at birds perched on a tree outside. The scene brought him comfort. Meanwhile 15 kilometers away, his wife was feeling increasingly strained. The children demanded to know where their father was. Neighbours had to be assured everything was fine. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

Published on May 01, 2020 12:18 PM

Maqbool spent hours looking out the window at birds perched on a tree outside. The scene brought him comfort. Meanwhile 15 kilometers away, his wife was feeling increasingly strained. The children demanded to know where their father was. Neighbours had to be assured everything was fine. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

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A doctor fills a form for Maqbool’s second swab test while he was is in quarantine, in Mumbai on April 24, 2020. Every morning there would be phone calls from the nurse or doctor on duty to check his health. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

Published on May 01, 2020 12:18 PM

A doctor fills a form for Maqbool’s second swab test while he was is in quarantine, in Mumbai on April 24, 2020. Every morning there would be phone calls from the nurse or doctor on duty to check his health. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

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Food is seen placed outside the door of the room Rafiq Maqbool was placed in during his quarantine. The staff would ring his room’s doorbell, put food outside and leave. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

Published on May 01, 2020 12:18 PM

Food is seen placed outside the door of the room Rafiq Maqbool was placed in during his quarantine. The staff would ring his room’s doorbell, put food outside and leave. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

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A mask lies along with food on a table in Rafiq Maqbool’s room (left), and a prayer mat, cap and a good luck charm Maqbool’s daughter gave him while parting. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

Published on May 01, 2020 12:18 PM

A mask lies along with food on a table in Rafiq Maqbool’s room (left), and a prayer mat, cap and a good luck charm Maqbool’s daughter gave him while parting. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

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Maqbool’s bed on April 23, 2020. Over the next few days, a chat group formed by the hotel residents became his second family where other journalists talked about their experiences. “It was our little ghetto in the time of the coronavirus,” he said. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

Published on May 01, 2020 12:18 PM

Maqbool’s bed on April 23, 2020. Over the next few days, a chat group formed by the hotel residents became his second family where other journalists talked about their experiences. “It was our little ghetto in the time of the coronavirus,” he said. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

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Maqbool watches a Bollywood film on the television while biding time in quarantine. He began spending time making pictures that would form this diary. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

Published on May 01, 2020 12:18 PM

Maqbool watches a Bollywood film on the television while biding time in quarantine. He began spending time making pictures that would form this diary. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

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A civic employee puts a stamp on the hand of a photojournalist for a 2-week quarantine at home after his COVID-19 test report came negative (left), and a civic employee walks to collect a signed 14-day home quarantine form from Rafiq Maqbool (right). (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

Published on May 01, 2020 12:18 PM

A civic employee puts a stamp on the hand of a photojournalist for a 2-week quarantine at home after his COVID-19 test report came negative (left), and a civic employee walks to collect a signed 14-day home quarantine form from Rafiq Maqbool (right). (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

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A stamp for a 14-day home quarantine is seen on the hand of Associated Press photographer Rafiq Maqbool. On day 5, Maqbool and the other hotel residents were tested again. When the results come back two days later, he and his colleagues were found to be negative for the virus. Later that day, on April 27, he was reunited with his family. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

Published on May 01, 2020 12:18 PM

A stamp for a 14-day home quarantine is seen on the hand of Associated Press photographer Rafiq Maqbool. On day 5, Maqbool and the other hotel residents were tested again. When the results come back two days later, he and his colleagues were found to be negative for the virus. Later that day, on April 27, he was reunited with his family. (Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

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