All over the world, countries are obligating its citizens to remain at home and indoors to not only to slow down and try to put an end to COVID-19 but also to ensure the health of individuals and everyone around them. The only exception for leaving home that has been given is for essential matters such as groceries, gas and health related concerns. In order to keep these essential businesses up and running there needs to be workers — workers who are putting their health in danger in order for its community to have its vital needs.
Places such as grocery/drug stores, hotels, communication businesses, transportation systems and public health are the few places which remain open but with specific regulations to ensure safety to its guests.
These rules include only allowing a certain number of people inside its facility, encouraging face masks and gloves and keeping the social six feet distance between one another. One thing to keep in mind is that although employees try their best to follow these guidelines, some measures have to be taken for these businesses to maintain order.
Roman Nava, an employee at the UCSF medical center, spoke about his experience with adjusting to his job during this pandemic, especially working at a medical facility surrounded by hundreds of ill patients on a daily basis. He talked about the change in his routine when starting to shift and the measures UCSF goes to to ensure its safety.
“Coming into work, we always get tested and screened at the entrance of the building,” Nava said. “They take down our temperatures and ask us questions if we’re experiencing any of the symptoms. We’re also only limited to one mask a day due to the medical masks shortage that’s going on.”
From being able to walk into work normally, many employers including hospitals are now testing its employees to detect any type of symptoms that could be connected to COVID-19. Although this is a great initiative, one can see how this can cause some level of stress and anxiety on a worker, adding on to the thought of not only putting yourself at risk but family members around you. He spoke about the precautions he himself takes upon himself and how he feels about having to do so.
“It’s honestly a scary feeling but I always take extra precautions when I’m at work,” Nava said. “Always washing my hands after touching everything, wiping my phone with alcohol wipes, sanitizing my hands. When I get home from work, I strip off my clothes and immediately put them in the hamper and shower that same work day.”
Scary is the simplest of words to express how not just himself but all the essential workers feel having to work during a pandemic. As businesses continue to remain open during this pandemic it is important to recognize them as they continue to put their health at risk.
Ana Delgadillo is a staff writer for The Express. Follow her at @aaanakd.
