Social quarantine in the context of COVID-19: A look from the perspective of emeritus university professors

The objective of the research was to describe the meanings constructed by five emeritus university professors from the University of Zulia in Maracaibo-Venezuela, regarding the experience lived on the occasion of the social quarantine, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a qualitative investigation, from a phenomenological perspective. The findings focus on two issues: the first refers to the context of social quarantine in the country; and the second, to the experiences lived during this. Two categories emerged: The quarantine in Venezuela is different from that of other countries; and the impact of social quarantine. It is concluded that the emerging central category "The quarantine in Venezuela is different from that of other countries" in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, was of conceptual interest for understanding the phenomenon studied, since it reflected the overlap of two conditions: the complex humanitarian crisis and the pandemic itself; Therefore, the social quarantine had a negative multidimensional impact, which affected, in addition to the already deteriorated material living conditions, also the socio-emotional, and values such as freedom, peace, family coexistence, all based on the meanings constructed by key informants.