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Yet, on Wednesday *alone* 1 out of every 300 persons in this country decided to board a plane.
Nearly 1 out of 50 persons boarded a plane in the last 6 days.
Nearly 1 out of 50 persons boarded a plane in the last 6 days.
Red translates to at least 100 *new* #COVID19 cases out of every 100,000 persons (in the last week). If 6M persons passed through TSA checkpoints —> that’s potentially 6,000+ persons.
And that’s not even counting asymptomatic carriers
Let that sink in.
And that’s not even counting asymptomatic carriers
Let that sink in.
Can we trust that all 6,000+ persons with *newly diagnosed* #COVID19 stayed home?
NO. Period. Full stop. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/us/united-airlines-covid-death-lax.html
NO. Period. Full stop. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/us/united-airlines-covid-death-lax.html
And here’s the thing, as much as we want to trust our friends, family, and neighbors to do the right thing, let’s be real: we just don’t know for sure.
We have to be better than this.
We can be better than this.
We must be better than this.
We have to be better than this.
We can be better than this.
We must be better than this.
If you haven’t noticed them already, expect to read a lot of these exasperated, frustrated threads from doctors, nurses, and other clinical staff in the coming days, weeks, and months.
Let me explain why.
Let me explain why.
We don’t talk about this openly enough with each other, or with the public, but anyone that’s *ever* been a frontline HCW remembers their first patient death like it was yesterday.
And it hurts. It fucking hurts.
We really, really do care about you.
We carry your loss with us.
And it hurts. It fucking hurts.
We really, really do care about you.
We carry your loss with us.
You don’t see it but we cry, we break down and cry when we lose someone.
Sometimes it happens a few minutes later. We excuse ourselves go to an empty hallway, patient room, or stairwell and let it all out.
More often than not, it happens later.
Sometimes it happens a few minutes later. We excuse ourselves go to an empty hallway, patient room, or stairwell and let it all out.
More often than not, it happens later.
It happens when we least expect it. When we’re spending time with our families and happen upon a TV show or movie that, for whatever reason, triggers the memory of that person…and we lose it.
We mourn each death. Every. Single. One.
You would, too. It’s what makes us human.
We mourn each death. Every. Single. One.
You would, too. It’s what makes us human.
So when we ask you to please, please, please wear a mask, stay home, and get vaccinated (when your turn comes up) we’re also begging you to spare us from the emotional scars that come with seeing an innocent person suffer, and ultimately die.
Increasingly, it also means that we’re scared of dying.
I kid you not: I’ve had frank conversations with good friends who are currently on the frontlines. The topic? Detailed instructions on what to do should they end up on a ventilator.
I kid you not: I’ve had frank conversations with good friends who are currently on the frontlines. The topic? Detailed instructions on what to do should they end up on a ventilator.
And I mean *detailed* — everything from goals of care (i.e. “would you want to live if […]) to "please make sure that my parents have access to [X] account” to “Is there anything you want to make sure that your son knows about you?”
And to that last point: there’s a conscious recognition that not only are they putting themselves at risk, but they’re also risking the lives of their families.
There’s no guarantee that if they get sick, their spouse won’t.
There’s a constant fear of “bringing it home”
There’s no guarantee that if they get sick, their spouse won’t.
There’s a constant fear of “bringing it home”
I, for one, have been at home working with federal, state, and local government on the response since March 15th.
I’m the designated survivor, so to speak, but I’m also ready to be called in at any moment.
I’m the designated survivor, so to speak, but I’m also ready to be called in at any moment.
While I wait for my turn, I spend 16-18 hours of my day gathering data and crunching numbers to help inform policy-makers and anyone that will listen, including you.
I’ve watched as the this disease moves across the country more times than I’ve had time to process.
I’ve watched as the this disease moves across the country more times than I’ve had time to process.
For months, I’ve watched as this virus ebbs-and-flows within and across states — leaving death, disability, pain and suffering in its wake.
Trust me when I say this: the *worst* is yet to come.
I beg you to please do everything you can to take care of yourselves.
Trust me when I say this: the *worst* is yet to come.
I beg you to please do everything you can to take care of yourselves.
That means:
Avoid indoor gatherings with people that don’t live with you
Wear a mask
Get vaccinated as soon as you’re eligible
If we all do those 3 things, we’ll be past this nightmare in time to celebrate the holidays together next year.
Avoid indoor gatherings with people that don’t live with youWear a maskGet vaccinated as soon as you’re eligibleIf we all do those 3 things, we’ll be past this nightmare in time to celebrate the holidays together next year.
If you’ve made this far, thank you for listening.
I sincerely wish you Merry Christmas and Happy *Healthy* New Year.
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I sincerely wish you Merry Christmas and Happy *Healthy* New Year.
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And now, this … https://twitter.com/sawyerhackett/status/1342215254655295488
