What has really changed for essential workers?

In these uncertain times, it's understandable that people are more cautious. Being sanitary and germ free is especially important for front line workers that don't have the ability to work from home.

My question is, what has really changed? Hospital workers have always been exposed to illnesses, yet they happily go home to their families without a 2nd thought. If wearing a mask and washing your hands is new to them during this "pandemic"...why? As a healthcare worker, they should have already been doing those things, long before now. Otherwise, they put everyone at risk.

Grocery & gas station workers have been exposed on a daily basis as well. The main difference is that now, less people are coming into the store and more people are wearing masks, which should lessen their exposure to illness more than ever before. 

I get being concerned about contracting an illness while at work but I don't get the people that are having a fit about working. Do you know how many people are out of work, making no money, with no way to support their families? As an essential worker, you're still able to go forward with daily life, pay your bills and provide for your family. If you feel the risk is too high, you're free to take time off, quit your job, etc. Do you really want to be in the position that millions of others find themselves? Unable to out food on the table and pay their rent? 

Front line workers have always been at risk for contracting, and spreading, illnesses. That hasn't changed. What has changed is the increased use of PPE and the reduced # of people out which, overall, actually reduces the chances that a front line worker will get sick. 

While I appreciate all these people and know that the country couldn't keep running without them, I say, I appreciate you but you chose this as a job/career. You put your health at risk every day you go to work. Not much has changed. 

Be happy you still have a job and a way to support your family. Take pride that what you do is helping the economy and your fellow Americans. 

And remember, millions would trade places with you in a heartbeat. 

It's all in your perspective. 

Prayers Needed

If you are the praying sort, please add these folks to your prayer list and spread the word to others. If you don't believe in that sort of thing, please just keep these folks in your thoughts.

- My uncle Ken is diabetic, on dialysis while waiting for a kidney transplant & had a 3rd heart attack yesterday. He now has at least 2 stints in his heart. He is the father of 2 pre-teens and husband to my aunt. They live in Tennessee and don't have any family closer than 3-4 hours away.

- My aunt Leah is in the midst of stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C and is waiting for a liver transplant. She is in and out of the hospital every month because her ammonia levels get elevated and she becomes delirious. She was erroneously taken off the transplant list several months ago and the doctors have pretty much written her off. They admit her til her levels are closer to normal and then send her home to wait. She retains lbs of fluid that must be drained monthly and is in constant discomfort. This weekend, she also broke her foot in 2 places.

- My cousin's 18 month old baby girl is battling cancer and is on her 2nd round of intense chemotherapy. She is too young to have to go through all this.

- My uncle Earl was in the ICU last week due to an unknown illness. They still aren't sure what caused him to be so sick but the doctor said "If I didn't know any better, I'd think he had cholera".

- My cousins grandmother is in the hospital with cardiac issues as well.