Covid-19: Opinion Piece

The last weeks and months have been extremely difficult for many of us as we are hunkered down in our living spaces. As the weather moves towards spring we want to get outside, be with people, and yes, even go shopping when we want without restrictions. Yet, for the most part, we have done our best to contribute to “flattening the curve.” As hard as it is, we are doing a positive service for ourselves, our families, our friends, and our communities.

Included in our community are the places where care is given and received such as the hospitals, long term care homes, retirement homes and group homes. At these places, everyday heroes are those gowning, gloving and masking to provide care for those in need. Everyday heroes who have made sacrifices to keep us safe and to keep their own families safe through living apart; minimizing contact with their own families and loved ones. These heroes are the doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietary staff, personal support workers and environmental service workers. Being a hero in such a setting is not done by a person who is not scared, but by a person who has courage and a motivation to care and be compassionate. Recently a friend and colleague texted me saying:

“We have lots of COVID patients. My face cheeks were all red from blood vessels bursting from the mask pressure after one shift. It’s so scary waiting for the peak.”

It is so scary, it is uncomfortable donning and wearing all day long the masks, gowns and gloves, which make up the contemporary armour that protects one from becoming infected. For those who have not worn the N95 masks, we hear and read so much about, they are uncomfortable, hard to breathe through and hard to be heard through. It requires extra effort to speak loud enough to be heard through the muffling effect of the masks. The ritual of donning and doffing of PPEs are done in service to those in need; those formerly healthy and the vulnerable in long term care homes and group homes.

It is a paradox that health care providers, in giving their lives in service, have lost their lives to the scourge of COVID-19.

When we see the number of cases of COVID-19 around the world and the lives lost, it can be overwhelming. Yet we need to be mindful that each number is a person who has contributed to life, who have people who love them and there are those grieving in ways that we cannot imagine. Our hearts must go out to staff of long-term care homes where numerous residents have died within a short period. Residents whom they have known over time and may live in the community with the resident’s families. And still if the staff are well, they report for duty. Many health care professionals working with people will lose patients, depending on specialty or area of practice, as a regular part of their work. But rarely 10s, 20s, 30s within a short period of time. I was touched when I heard the story of an MD who, knowing of the loss of more than 20 residents in a long-term care home, pulled their car to the side of the road and “sobbed.”

What can we do to help? In this time when there are few defenses, we must continue to listen to the public health officials who, based on present knowledge and best practice, advise us to stay home, keep physical distance from the next person, wear masks and limit our going out to when it is only necessary. It is important to acknowledge the difficult role Public health officials have as our understanding about the COVID-19 virus is changing. As such, their recommendations and responses must be modified.

As I close this letter, give thought to those who are and have made sacrifices. Join the varying ways of giving thanks for health care providers from banging pots to other social media modalities that allow us to creatively acknowledge their important roles. Let us do our part to bend the curve.

Thanks,

Bob Parke