Read on Twitter
THREAD: I briefly ventured into a side corner of @kingswaymall for a v quick essential errand today followed by a trip into RAH to pick up some stuff I had left behind while I work at a diff hospital for a few months. The differences couldn’t be more stark. (1/x)
The hospital is empty in the hallways with the exception of some staff walking about in PPE. Very few families or visitors because they can only be safely permitted in a few situations. The mood feels somber. I feel a bit like I’m walking into the eye of a hurricane. (2/x)
This doesn’t mean it’s not busy. I dropped off coffee for my 2 amazing co-residents one of whom is working a 24 hour shift and ran into one of my RN colleagues. It’s still full force ahead; babies don’t stop being born because there’s a surge of patients from a pandemic. (3/x)
In contrast to the hospital, the mall was pretty well packed full w folks living their best lives. People out and about in groups, most wearing masks but a few not, lining up for xmas shopping. I left within about 7 minutes and felt disturbed for entering in the 1st place. (4/x)
Literally across the street, people are dying of COVID, patients unable to see their families, and doctors / nurses / RTs / PTs / radiology techs / unit clerks / HCW of all varieties are working so hard to keep Albertans safe despite seriously less than ideal conditions. (5/x)
As a society our priorities are seriously out of wack. Malls full / hospitals full. Bars open / schools closed. Casinos open / waterparks open / “mobile medical units” open. Families apart, grandparents dead, but economy open. (6/x)
(P.s. my reason for going to the mall was having glasses adjusted, since I need them for driving, etc. the only reason I can come up with for going to a mall right now is if your doc / dentist / optometrist etc works there. everything else is avail by pickup / delivery.) FIN.
