Iris See Yun Ye Class: 3/7
COVID-19: The Frontline
Written By: Iris See
Editor of Riverside Magazine
Surviving a disease outbreak was perhaps not on anyone’s list of New Year’s resolutions but things change. On December 31 2019, news of an unknown strain of pneumonia in Wuhan, China surfaced. Since then, things have not been quite the same.
It is subtle, how our awareness of this disease works its way into the minutiae of everyday life – through bottles of hand sanitizers on the front desk, and in moments of hesitation glancing at elevator buttons. Suddenly, we become hyperaware of our shoulders bumping a stranger’s on public transportation and the incessant feeling of fear when we hear someone cough.
However, even as we scrub off yet another layer of skin after touching a vaguely unsafe surface, there are still people out there who have it worse than us – healthcare workers. As the situation rapidly worsens and evolves in ways that we cannot foresee, hospital staff – doctors, nurses, paramedics, cleaners, drivers and more, are kept on their toes. Their work does not end after hours. They work round the clock, often sacrificing what should have been personal or family time, with time at work instead.
What should have been a badge of honour has turned out to be a mark of disgrace for many healthcare workers. As tensions rise, scrubs have become an unspoken object of taboo amongst Singaporeans. There are numerous stories of healthcare personnel being shunned on public transportation and being denied service, such as having their private hire drivers cancel on them upon the former finding out their line of job, or being turned away outright by stall owners. The situation is ludicrous, especially so when accusations of healthcare workers’ uniforms being “dirty” are completely baseless. When treating patients, staff don protective gear and equipment – masks, gloves, caps, goggles – if only as a precaution. In the current climate, it is tough being a martyr, but someone has to do it.
It is without a doubt, that every soldier needs something to fight for. Behind every comrade on the frontline, is the support of loved ones – tangible reminders of why it is worth the fight. After a grueling twelve hour shift, doctors and nurses alike return to their humble abodes to reunite once again, with the very people who spur them on. Alas, being in close contact with infected persons is not a choice that affects on the individual. As the disease can transmit even before symptoms show, family members have to be extra vigilant at all times, taking precautionary measures like washing their hands more often and sleeping in different rooms to prevent possible infections.
However, it is not all gloom and doom for our healthcare workers. As of February 28 2020, the government has announced its decision to award an additional month of special bonus to public officers battling the virus on the frontline to recognize and reward their efforts in this difficult time. Monetary compensation is but a small way to thank these heroes of the sacrifices they make daily. A little more graciousness and empathy from fellow citizens, will go a long way.
Writers by the River 