Small Aircraft
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Environment - Non Weather Related; Staffing; Human Factors; Procedure
This event occurred during special staffing circumstances; in which we are working on skeleton crews due to COVID-19; and I was working with one other person; and half of the airspace for our TRACON. Also; there have been a high amount of practice approaches during this time. Aircraft X was at 030 was cleared for an approach into ZZZ that has a one minute procedure turn at ZZZZZ [Intersection]; and I had another aircraft I was vectoring into ZZZ1 at 040; which I waited until he was established to descend him; because the approaches come close to each other but don't overlap. I have never seen this type aircraft go as far out as Aircraft X did; especially doing less than 100 kts; and so I immediately got off the line I was coordinating on and asked him if he was commencing the turn inbound; I then called traffic to him and he said traffic in sight and I asked that he maintain visual separation. I did not realize at the time that I lost separation; but upon review; the Quality Control staff found that I lost separation before I obtained visual separation.In the future; I would ask the pilot to report the turn inbound and wait to descend the other aircraft or I would wait until I visually observe this on the screen. I have worked many of these approaches in this type of scenario and I was anticipating the turn to be much smaller; but I realize I should protect for a larger turn; in case the pilot does something I am not anticipating. In general; these weeks have been hard because of the high amount of VFR traffic and the flight school operating out of ZZZ2; along with no D-side or Coordinators and more airspace; longer time on position with many days off in between; and it just makes it a little harder.
TRACON Controller reported a loss of separation due to an aircraft taking too long to turn inbound on the approach. Controller made reference to COVID-19 related issues contributing to the event.