A couple of months after the Coronavirus outbreak was reported in China, the world has come to a staggering halt. As of this moment, the current number of infected patients stands at 471,794. About 21,297 people have already lost this battle. Entire countries are under complete lockdown, economies are struggling, businesses are shutting down and several people are losing their livelihood. While social distancing is one of the most important measures one can adopt to curb the spread of the virus, it is pertinent to acknowledge that if you are safe within the comforts of your home, spending time with family and still making an income without stepping out–you’re part of the privileged few.
Also Read: Doing This One Thing Is The Best Way To Curb The Coronavirus Outbreak, And It Is Up To You
Take some time to express gratitude, because while we complain about being bored at home, real-life heroes are risking their lives to keep many alive. Can you imagine the kind of stress that medical health professionals must be experiencing during these trying times? One doctor took to Twitter to share exactly what a day in his life looks like at the moment. Dr Craig Spencer, who is the director of global health in Emergency Medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, had previously treated and survived Ebola.
Take a peek into what a ‘normal’ day in his emergency room looks like these days:
Dr Craig Shares It All
Thank you everyone for your incredible messages of support and encouragement.♥️
Many of you asked what it was like in the ER right now. I want to share a bit with you. Please RT:
A Day in the Life of an ER Doc – A Brief Dispatch from the #COVID19 Frontline:
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
It Starts With Coffee, Just Like The Rest Of Us
Wake up at 6:30am. Priority is making a big pot of coffee for the whole day, because the place by the hospital is closed. The Starbucks too. It's all closed.
On the walk, it feels like Sunday. No one is out. Might be the freezing rain. Or it's early. Regardless, that's good.
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
The Calm Before The Storm
Walk in for your 8am shift: Immediately struck by how the calm of the early morning city streets is immediately transformed. The bright fluorescent lights of the ER reflect off everyone's protective goggles. There is a cacophony of coughing. You stop. Mask up. Walk in.
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
Patients Are Of All Ages
You take signout from the previous team, but nearly every patient is the same, young & old:
Cough, shortness of breath, fever.
They are really worried about one patient. Very short of breath, on the maximum amount of oxygen we can give, but still breathing fast.
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
Things Soon Get Gloomy
You immediately assess this patient. It's clear what this is, and what needs to happen. You have a long and honest discussion with the patient and family over the phone. It's best to put her on life support now, before things get much worse. You're getting set up for that, but…
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
‘It’s Not Even 10am Yet…’
You're notified of another really sick patient coming in. You rush over. They're also extremely sick, vomiting. They need to be put on life support as well. You bring them back. Two patients, in rooms right next to each other, both getting a breathing tube. It's not even 10am yet
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
Read This If You’re Taking This Outbreak Lightly
For the rest of your shift, nearly every hour, you get paged:
Stat notification: Very sick patient, short of breath, fever. Oxygen 88%.
Stat notification: Low blood pressure, short of breath, low oxygen.
Stat notification: Low oxygen, can't breath. Fever.
All day…
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
Drinking Water Is A Luxury
Sometime in the afternoon you recognize you haven't drank any water. You're afraid to take off the mask. It's the only thing that protects you. Surely you can last a little longer – in West Africa during Ebola, you spent hours in a hot suit without water. One more patient…
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
Lunch Is A Distant Dream
By late afternoon, you need to eat. Restaurant across the street is closed. Right, everything is closed. But thankfully the hospital cafeteria is open. You grab something, wash your hands (twice), cautiously take off your mask, & eat as fast as you can. Go back. Mask up. Walk in.
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
Alarming Increase In COVID-19 Patients
Nearly everyone you see today is the same. We assume everyone is #COVIDー19. We wear gowns, goggles, and masks at every encounter. All day. It's the only way to be safe. Where did all the heart attacks and appendicitis patients go? Its all COVID.
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
It’s All COVID-19
When your shift ends, you sign out to the oncoming team. It's all #COVIDー19. Over the past week, we've all learned the signs – low oxygen, lymphopenia, elevated D-dimer.
You share concerns of friends throughout the city without PPE. Hospitals running out of ventilators.
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
Sanitise. Everything.
Before you leave, you wipe EVERYTHING down. Your phone. Your badge. Your wallet. Your coffee mug. All of it. Drown it in bleach. Everything in a bag. Take no chances.
Sure you got it all??? Wipe is down again. Can't be too careful.
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
And The World Outside Has No Idea
You walk out and take off your mask. You feel naked and exposed. It's still raining, but you want to walk home. Feels safer than the subway or bus, plus you need to decompress.
The streets are empty. This feels nothing like what is happening inside. Maybe people don't know???
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
The Joy Of Being Back Home With Your Loved Ones
You get home. You strip in the hallway (it's ok, your neighbors know what you do). Everything in a bag. Your wife tries to keep your toddler away, but she hasn't seen you in days, so it's really hard. Run to the shower. Rinse it all away. Never happier. Time for family.
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
In Case You Needed A Reality Check
You reflect on the fact that it's really hard to understand how bad this is – and how bad its going to be – if all you see are empty streets.
Hospitals are nearing capacity. We are running out of ventilators. Ambulance sirens don't stop.
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
This Is The New Normal
Everyone we see today was infected a week ago, or more. The numbers will undoubtedly skyrocket overnight, as they have every night the past few days. More will come to the ER. More will be stat notifications. More will be put on a ventilator.
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
Life>Money
We were too late to stop this virus. Full stop. But we can slow it's spread. The virus can't infect those it never meets. Stay inside. Social distancing is the only thing that will save us now. I don't care as much about the economic impact as I do about our ability to save lives
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
Do Your Part. Stay Indoors.
We were too late to stop this virus. Full stop. But we can slow it's spread. The virus can't infect those it never meets. Stay inside. Social distancing is the only thing that will save us now. I don't care as much about the economic impact as I do about our ability to save lives
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) March 24, 2020
Also Read: Coronavirus In India: What Is Self-Quarantine & How To Do It The Right Way
Never has a twitter thread managed to send chills down my spine. And you thought staying locked inside our comfortable homes was hard? Think again. Do it for the people who don’t have the privilege to stay at home. Do it for people like Dr Craig.
Featured Image: Shutterstock
