The COVID-19 pandemic has really taken the world by storm.

Before any scientist, analyst or medical expert could learn more about this virus, it has already taken the lives of thousands of people.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a pandemic last March 11, 2020, with more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries.

“In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher. WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic,” WHO wrote in their announcement.

Since this announcement, 100,000 people tested positive within two days.

By April 2, 2020, the total number of positive cases (including recoveries and deaths) have reached 981,000 people, three weeks after the WHO announcement.

And on the forefront (or backend, as they insist) of this pandemic are the medical frontliners, who are working non-stop to contain the spread of this pandemic in all countries.

They are exhausted, hungry, and frustrated. But they love their job and they will continue to do their job of saving lives every day.

Let’s meet some of them and hope we can thank them for their sacrifice and hard work.

Nicola Sgarbi

Nicola doesn’t like selfies and he doesn’t feel like a hero.

“I am a normal person, who loves his job and who, now more than ever, is proud and proud to do it by giving all himself on the forefront lines together with other wonderful people (doctors, nurses, technicians, cleaners) Good morning. That’s why I don’t care about the many hours at work, signs on, back pain, tiredness, sautéed meals and much more. This will all pass… Don’t give up,” Nicola wrote on his Facebook page.

Dr. John Henao

Dr. Henao is an anesthesiologist. They don’t have a lot of PPEs anymore at his hospital and needed to reserve using those for patients who are confirmed COVID-19 patients. In the meantime, he needs to cover up to intubate a patient. This is what he did.

“THIS is what we have to do because we have no PPE. I am horrified. I cannot even begin to know if this is safe and cannot recommend it. But, sure, we’ll be safe with bandanas, scarves, and homemade cloth masks. (That, folks, is sarcasm). For my friends who are fellow physicians, please be safe, and for those of you who are not, please call or tweet or write your elected officials to demand that we are given adequate equipment in order to treat you safely,” Lisa Miller Delport, his colleague, wrote when she posted this on her Facebook profile.

Geni the cranky nurse

They may be grateful to have and wear the right supplies. But wearing it all day, it leaves them injured and still susceptible to injuries and infections.

“This is what you look like after wearing an N95 mask all day. We don’t have enough of anything. Help us help you,” Geni tweeted.

The Italian nurses

They look like they’ve been in a fight. Well, they are, technically. But it’s not a literal fight. They’re involved heavily in a fight against this COVID-19 pandemic.

“These are the faces of some of the Italian nurses after 13 long hours of work in [the] ICU. Much [fatigue],fear & concern in addition to the brands, injuries & heat caused by protective equipment. Stay strong,” Qaiser Nawab shared on Twitter.

Katie Vigos

Katie has been a critical care nurse for the past 13 years. But never has she been in anything like this ever.

“It is beyond overwhelming. Not only are all of us fighting to survive the contagion itself, [but] we are [also] fighting for protection from a government that failed to adequately prepare us for this pandemic. Everyone is scrambling. Our skills and expertise are being put to the test in every way imaginable right now. And it’s only just getting started,” Katie declared to her followers on Instagram.

Luke, the rowing nurse

The reality is that nurses treating COVID-19 positive patients have to work full PPE gear. And they have to wear it all day. Luke has to wear for it for more than 10 hours. He has 1 hour off each day but he can’t take off the PPE because he’ll have to wear another since the first one he wore has to be discarded.

“You develop headaches from the straps, pain all over your face, all of which you can’t touch till you de-robe. I still have marks and pain this morning,” Luke wrote on Instagram.

Dr. Joy Vink

Dr. Joy Vink is at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic in NYC. She deals with COVID-19 positive patients every day but they do not have the right gear. So she has to get creative.

Instead of face shields or PPE goggles and N95 masks, she uses swimming goggles and a regular medical facial mask! Where is the support for them?

Georgina the deliverer

Georgina has the job most people in the medical field do not want. She delivers the news to all patients, including those who got tested for COVID-19. Sometimes, she’ll deliver good news, which she looks forward to every time. But most of the time, she delivers bad news to patients who tested positive.

“This is the look after a conversation w a husband of a client who didn’t believe I don’t have results yet after 5 days because the TV told him u can get them back in 45mins now… why would I hold results of life and death back?,” Georgina wrote on Instagram.

Cristina finds the strength

It’s exhausting what all the medical workers have to face every day. And sometimes, we wonder how they can still continue to face this medical pandemic all day every day.

She said despite it all, she was able to comfort a patient, talk and laugh with two grandmothers, and opened the door for a patient who gets to go home!

“Under the suits, the masks, and the visors, [we] are… laughing, crying, hoping and cheering for our patients … and… even with just a look, they thank us. This gives me the power,” Cristina Barbieri said.

Wear a mask at all times

This nurse, Jason, has already been doing it, wearing a mask all day, every day. So when his hospital required that they wear masks, he didn’t have a problem with the policy. But what happens when it runs out? That’s what he’s worried about.

The beds are full in France

Dodo works in a private clinic in a French suburb. And their clinic has 26 places for resuscitation. They’re all full.

“France is still #7 in COVID cases and it’s growing at a rate of 3,900 a day. It is a crisis when we are filling 26-bed clinics in the suburbs with COVID patients! We salute all of these nurses stepping up!” Dodo shared.

Pavla’s request

Despite all the other viruses that the world has experienced before, the world was not ready for COVID-19. And the doctors and nurses are doing the best they can every day to survive the crisis.

“We can’t do it anymore. We don’t sleep, we don’t eat, I haven’t even remember. Phone ringing virtually continuously.
Sure, as doctors, we signed up for a hard job, knowing what we were getting into. But this is different. This is a sprint and a marathon in one – it’s a very intense thon, but at the same time it takes a long time and the end is not yet in sight. Let’s just act reasonable and treat each other like humans,” Pavla wrote on her Facebook profile.

They are our modern-day heroes. They will sacrifice everything they have just to make sure everyone is safe. And we need to help them as much as we can.

Stay at home. Don’t leave unless it’s an emergency.

Help them acquire their required amount of medical supplies so they can do their job safely.

Want to know how nurses care for COVID-19 patients? Watch the video below.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: NBC News, BBC, WHO