Returning to the Front Line

Because of the global crisis well-known as COVID-19, careers in almost every industry are being liquidated. Thousands of people are unemployed and unable to find new jobs. Grocery store workers, law enforcement, and truckers are finally getting some recognition and appreciation for their hard work and dedication during the pandemic. But, there's one industry that is swamped with open jobs, understaffed facilities, and more than enough of customers: healthcare.

Now is a really good times to be a healthcare provider, unless, of course, you want to stay healthy. Due to being understaffed, hospitals, in-home healthcare, and caregiving facilities are running at max capacity with minimum protection.

I go back to work tomorrow.

I will be working a day shift with special needs adults who's around-the-clock help can't stop for a little Coronavirus. These people need constant care and supervision, assistance with all daily activities, and medication administration every couple of hours. Our work environments are far from sterile, as facilities like ours have been out of PPE (personal protection equipment) for weeks. Classic medical face masks were the first thing leave. Many were stolen by employees, and the rest were used frivolously. Hand sanitizer is homemade and I've never even seen a N95 mask in our facility. Gloves are only to be used when absolutely necessary, and we've paired up with a local seamstress to supply us with one fabric mask per worker. These masks have to be washed and sterilized after every use and still do little to protect us from the uncountable amount of airborne germs and bacteria we encounter per day. Fabric face masks, even with filters, only remove up to 3% of the grossness from the air. But 3% is better than nothing.

Because I will be in contact with vulnerable people, as well as being exposed to whatever my coworkers have chosen to associate with, the likelihood of becoming a carrier of COVID-19 is higher than ever. I will continue to self-isolate, spending as little time in the public as possible. I will be limiting my contact to only Jacob and Camille (my housemates) and to my immediate family.

If you work in the healthcare industry, thank you. Thank you for your daily sacrifice to go to work and care for the vulnerable and sick. If you are an essential worker, thank you. Thank you for continuing to supply both our homes and facilities with the vital things we need to survive this pandemic. If you are working from home or have been laid off to prevent the spread, thank you. Thank you for prioritizing both our and your safety, even if it feels overkill.

Please continue to pray. Pray for the victims, survivors, doctors, nurses, caregivers, essential workers, and the scientists who are working their guts out to try and save us from this thing.

Please pray.