Thai kindergarteners wear face masks as they demonstrate the use of social distanced play areas at the Wat Khlong Toey School on August 10, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. In the beginning of July 2020, The Wat Khlong Toey School reopened its doors to its approximately 250 students following the relaxation of lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the school was forced to shutter its doors in mid March due to Thailand's emergency decree and lockdown, the administration and teachers prepared measures to ensure a safe reopening: installing sinks and soap dispensers outside of each classroom, creating social distancing screens in classrooms and lunch areas, and installing hand sanitizer dispensers and temperature scanners at the entry.
Lauren DeCicca is a documentary photographer based in Bangkok, Thailand. She has spent over 7 years in Southeast Asia covering political upheaval, humanitarian disasters, social issues and healthcare crises. She has photographed on assignment for The New York Times, National Geographic, Getty Images, among others. In 2020, her essay The Battambang Roses was awarded an Award of Excellence in the Sports Picture Story category at the 77th Pictures of the Year International.
