By: Annika Blackburn
During this difficult time of dealing with the COVID-19 coronavirus, many people stay home in order to keep their community safe. But, some people still have to go to work everyday, and it’s more important than ever that they do that. Even though Governor Pritzer enacted a Shelter-in-Place order for the entire state of Illinois, people who work for essential businesses and companies are more needed than ever. Many shops such as salons, boutiques, and other small businesses have closed. But, things like grocery stores and hospitals still need to stay open. Food is a necessity, and so is medical care.
So far coronavirus cases have spiked to over three thousand in Illinois. That is why essential service personnel, doctors, and nurses need our support more than ever right now. The amount of people who have gotten the virus has been going up continuously everywhere, not just in our state. There have been over six hundred thousand reported cases of the coronavirus worldwide. Over thirty thousand people in the world are reported to have died from the disease.
Doctors and nurses are working longer and harder hours because so many people are getting the coronavirus. Lots of hospital workers also have been contracting the disease themselves because there is not enough personal protective equipment to go around. More masks and gloves need to be produced in order to remedy this issue. Doctors and nurses in some hospitals are even forced to wear trash bags in an effort to protect themselves from the disease. Hospital workers are also scared to go home from work everyday because they do not want to give their families the virus.
A lack of ventilators is also a big issue for many hospitals across the United States. As you probably already know, the coronavirus is a disease that greatly affects its victim’s lungs, making it very difficult or even impossible for them to breathe on their own. A ventilator is a machine that helps a patient who is struggling with a respiratory issue to survive. It is a device that “breathes” for them. Since there is a lack of these machines, the government has called on manufacturing companies such as car companies to start making ventilators instead of their usual products. If we don’t get more ventilators soon, doctors may have to start making the impossible choice of who to save and who not to save. Some fashion businesses have also started to make masks instead of clothes in order to provide for this nation’s medical workers.
Nurses are not the only people who have been working harder than ever lately, mail carriers, grocery store staff, factory workers, and first responders are also still on the job. People still rely on getting their mail and also want to stock up on groceries because of potential quarantining during this time of the coronavirus. Fires still need to be put out and crimes still need to be stopped. Plus, people still have all kinds of emergencies that aren’t related to the coronavirus. First responders continue to risk their lives and get the disease everyday. Now is the time to thank everyone who continues to serve the community despite tough times. The world hasn’t stopped turning just because we have a virus to deal with. Teachers and everyone working at home are also to thank for their efforts. Staying at home helps to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
You’re probably wondering what else you can do to help stop the spread of the coronavirus besides staying at home. Well, there are many ways that students, or people who are no longer allowed to go to work can help their community. You can follow basic rules such as washing your hands after being in public or sneezing/coughing into a tissue. Social distancing and not gathering in groups are also things that people can do to protect themselves and their community. Nurses, doctors, and essential service workers all rely on you to help stop the spread of the virus. Volunteering for churches or food banks would also be a big help. Finally, everyone is struggling during this time of the coronavirus, just in different ways. Essential workers have to risk getting the disease and may have to work longer hours. Other people wish they could leave their homes, but can’t. Thankfully, people have been supporting each other in this difficult time all over the world and will continue to do so.