COVID-19 has greatly affected our lives as students, but what about healthcare workers? Healthcare workers have been selflessly putting their lives on the line to provide care to those in need. Being a healthcare worker, no matter the role, is terrifying while in the midst of a global pandemic. Working in healthcare is tiresome on a regular day, let alone when you factor in all of the precautions and extra steps they now have to take to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Student Kiley Haygood and her mother are both nurses during the pandemic. Kiley chose to do online school this year, due to the fact that she is frequently in contact with COVID-positive patients. Prior to the pandemic, Kiley would be able to bring residents to activities and get them ready for visits with their families, but now none of that can take place. “Sometimes, my mom will work days and I’ll work evenings, so I won’t always see her until well after 10 P.M. We have frequent contact with positive patients, so we have to keep ourselves and others safe. We take precautions such as wearing our masks and PPE (personal protective equipment), as well as changing our scrubs and sanitizing personal items before we can enter the house,” Kiley states. Life certainly looks different in Kiley Haygood’s household because of COVID-19. 

Brayton Albitz is also a student working in a healthcare facility during COVID-19. When asked how the nature of his job has changed because of the pandemic, Brayton stated, “When our facility had COVID-19 cases, we had to wear PPE, masks, face shields, gloves, and disposable gowns just to deliver food to the infected areas. Our plates, utensils, and cups are all disposable now.” Many healthcare facilities are having to alter their normal routine because of the pandemic. Similar to schools, healthcare facilities are making the switch to disposable eating utensils and personal equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19. According to the CDC, COVID-19 can live for up to seven days on plastics and metals. This is why using disposable utensils and personal equipment is incredibly important. Brayton also mentioned the fears he has as a healthcare worker during this time and has a personal message to readers: “It was really scary to experience COVID-19 up close, knowing I could get it and spread it to family and friends. I have yet to get COVID-19 and I’m still going healthy. Keep your masks on and let’s all fight this virus as one!” 

Parnassus’s own Emily Mears has also had her life impacted by COVID-19. Emily’s mother is a nurse during the pandemic and has had to adjust to the new environment created by COVID-19. “Back in March, my mom was making plans for where we would go in case she got sick to protect us. As time went on and she adapted to it, she started to become less worried. We still have a plan in place, though, in case she gets sick.” 

Healthcare workers are tirelessly working to end the pandemic. With the influx of patients seeking treatment for COVID-19, healthcare workers are exhausted. We owe healthcare workers the utmost respect, especially during this time. We need to come together in unity to end this pandemic and protect American lives. In the inspiring words of Brayton, we can all fight this virus as one.