In New York, hospitals are bursting at the seams because of the corona virus. For the first time, a nurse also dies. His death spreads fear among the rest of the staff to become infected as well. Protective equipment is in short supply, hopelessness is spreading.
The peak of the Corona contagion wave in New York is only expected in about three weeks – but the situation in the US coastal metropolis is already threatening to get out of control. Doctors and nurses at the center of the pandemic in the United States are afraid of getting infected. Concern has increased since the death of 48-year-old nurse Kious Kelly.
The workload for hospital staff has grown immeasurably as a result of the corona crisis, reports hospital staff. Work is carried out around the clock to care for the many coronavirus patients.
As a result, some clinics are already reaching their limits – including those in which the late nurse Kelly worked. Several departments of Mount Sinai Hospital in the Manhattan district have burst at the seams because of the number of coronavirus patients, says Kellys colleague Diana Torres.
There is a “mood of hopelessness”
The nurse reports devastating conditions in her rehab department, which treats at least three corona patients. Torres explains that she only received protective equipment for the face and body after multiple requests. However, they must use them several times. “I have nothing for my head, nothing for my shoes,” she adds.
“There is a mood of hopelessness,” the nurse describes the climate in her clinic. “Everyone is afraid.” The hospital staff were “shocked” that their colleague Kelly had to “pay the highest price” for the dramatic conditions.
She herself is afraid of infecting her three children and her husband in the event of a coronavirus infection, Torres says. Doctors and nurses now moved “paranoid” through the clinic. “We cannot be tested” – this is reserved for patients and medical staff with severe symptoms. In terms of personnel, her clinic is in a worse position than ever before. The remaining colleagues would have to work a lot of overtime “because our own staff got sick”.
The epidemic is expected to peak in three weeks
In terms of infection numbers, the United States is now the country most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. More than 100,000 people have already contracted the Sars-Cov-2 pathogen there, and more than 1,500 people have died. The situation in the state of New York is particularly dramatic – especially in the densely populated capital of the same name.
Experts expect the peak of the contagion wave in the east coast metropolis to be reached in about three weeks. To help health care workers, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans to mobilize reinforcements.
“Lambs on the way to the slaughterhouse”
Meanwhile, many patients feel left alone. “It’s horrific,” said Andrew, the resident. He is in quarantine at home on suspicion of a coronavirus infection. “There is not enough money, not enough tests, not enough protective materials for people who are dealing with this situation,” he criticized. This affects “everyone in the hospital who is exposed to this huge exposure to the virus”.
Andrew emphasizes that he is not a serious case himself. However, he complains that people “at the front” are not adequately protected. “They’re lambs on the way to the slaughterhouse. It’s criminal.”
The government under US President Donald Trump blames Andrew. Those who work in the healthcare system are already making “big sacrifices,” says the resident. “It’s a shame that it got this far.” The central government in Washington acted “inappropriately” during the crisis. “More people will die.”
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