Introduction: A Day in the Life of a COVID-19 Hero
As of April 20th 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has claimed 165,939 lives around the world, hundreds of those being health care workers who risked their lives every day as essential workers during the crisis. The situation in America is extremely dire with a current total of 41,155 deaths around the country, and 13,869 deaths in New York alone.
It is hard to believe only weeks ago, the seriousness of COVID-19 was initially downplayed by the country’s leaders and media outlets, which was a poor response to concerns about public safety. Though it is not wise to incite panic or fear, it is necessary to provide the public with truthful updates and explanations that will help and empower them to make informed decisions to protect personal and public health and safety.
The pandemic has been likened to a war, through phrases referring to the virus as “the Invisible Enemy”, descriptions of hospitals as “war zones”, and calling health workers “frontliners”, which alludes to soldiers in the front of a battlefield.
“...it is necessary to provide the public with truthful updates and explanations that will empower them to make informed decisions to protect personal and public health and safety.”
The coronavirus pandemic is not a war. It is a health crisis — and the only “enemy” is misinformation, inefficient leadership and bureaucratic systems that have led to a shortage of medical equipment and supplies, like personal protective equipment (PPE).
Due to the nature of the respiratory virus as a contagion, access to hospitals is currently impossible, not only for the media but the family members of COVID-19 patients. Additionally, hospitals have warned their staff about speaking to the media about their workplace concerns during the coronavirus crisis. As a result, we are not able to see the conditions inside hospitals nor do we often get the chance to hear first-hand experiences from patients or medical staff, such as doctors, nurses, and medical technicians, who are working very hard to treat patients.
Stories are powerful and empowering. Therefore, we have reached out to essential workers in America, including health care workers, to listen to their stories and share them. Through this series, we hope to encourage Americans to appreciate our “COVID-19 heroes” and help us flatten the curve by staying home, respecting social distancing rules, practicing good hygiene habits, and being kinder to one another.
Read our first post “A Day in the Life of a COVID-19 Hero” featuring Dr. Sarah Shihadeh of Mount Sinai Morningside, Upper Manhattan, New York City.
Follow Center for Disease Control and Prevention for official updates, and stay tuned to our blog, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest stories from our COVID-19 heroes every week.