Buiten adem

In February 2020, more and more people are falling ill at a rapid pace. Hospitals are being flooded with patients infected with the coronavirus. In the first episode, those involved describe the panic of the first few weeks: how is it possible that patients die so quickly? And how do you keep healthcare human in times of crisis? The Van Zutven sisters tell how their disabled brother André is one of the first people to fall ill. Healthcare worker Susan also tells her story, who is shocked to see a good friend being brought into the ICU.

While the coronavirus is raging through the Netherlands, nursing homes are being closed. A silent disaster is unfolding inside them. Nurses at the Simeonshop in Erp are doing their best to care for all the elderly. Dozens of them die within a short period of time, and they often say goodbye via a screen. In the second episode, you will also hear the story of Niermala, who has to leave her sick partner Kishen (35) at the hospital and is no longer allowed to visit him.

The arrival of the vaccinations brings some relief. The first steps towards the end of the pandemic have been taken. The Netherlands is starting up again and we would rather forget the coronavirus as soon as possible. But for the healthcare workers, victims and relatives, life will never be the same again. They look back on a bizarre time. What have they learned from this and how are they doing now?