Essential Service Employee - COVID19
The world changed when COVID 19 made its rounds, starting in 2019 and then completely taking over 2020. What started in China soon spread everywhere across the world, affecting families, businesses, individuals and so forth. The world came to a complete standstill and we face each day knowing that years from now, this pandemic we are currently in, will be in history books.
I remember first hearing about this virus going around in early March, it started out with some shared posts on social media buy my international friends, and quickly reached the ears of those in Australia. In just a blink of an eye, our nation began panic buying. Toilet paper became the center of attention, fistfights and loud verbal arguments being posted up onto social media. People turned into animals, the fight for survival. The panic buying continued to the point where shelves were now stripped of canned foods, pasta, rice, noodles and so forth. Only a month ago, this same nation outstretched their arms to those who were affected by the bush fires, and now, we've completely flipped the tables.
Australia watched as every other country went into lockdown almost immediately, and little by little, stage 1, 2, and 3, Australia finally closed its borders and went into lockdown. The first of many businesses to be affected by this pandemic was the airlines. How can an airline operate, if we don't have anyone flying in and out? Qantas and Jetstar let go of 20,000 employees over a span of just a few weeks. I have a very close friend who works for Jetstar who has been put out of a job and left to rely on his annual leave as a source of income. Bar, clubs, and dine in restaurants were the next to have their doors sealed. I walked through town and watched local restaurants clearing out their shops, furniture stacked up against the walls, emptying out their shop, sitting there on the floor with their head in their hands.
The world, or more so, my world was being introduced to words and phrases like "quarantine", "self-isolation", and my favorite of all time "social distancing". People who have just traveled from overseas are required to go into quarantine and self-isolate for 14 days. Social distancing, whenever you are out in public, keep gap of 1.5 meters between you and anyone else, or a 4 square meter space between each person. Wash your hands repeatedly, cough in your elbow, sanitize the life out of everything you are about to touch, and if possible, wear gloves and face masks if available. Were not allowed to be out in public with more than 1 other person. Banned from going outside at all unless it's for an essential reason; exercise, work, accessing medical services, purchasing food. We are not allowed to be in the car making unnecessary trips, or if you are in the car with another person, you must keep the 1.5 distance unless you live with them. Places of worship have now also been banned.
I see on social media, nurses, and doctors quitting their jobs because of the lack of access to proper medical equipment. I also see videos of people out in public spitting on food that is sold in stores. I see employees spitting on the floors of their workplaces and a man removing his mask, fiddles with his mouth using his hand and then continues to smother his hand all over public transport handrails. The news feels like a repeat every single day, every channel, every network is coverage of this virus. Social media is flooded with virus-related memes and quarantine Instagram challenges.
I work on the front desk in a hotel and we are considered an essential service. Our doors stay open to all those who require accommodation. When I am at home in my bed, I completely forget that outside the world is going mad. It's not until I show up to work, and begin sanitizing everything in reception does the fear enter my mind again. Disposable gloves, face mask, glen 20 next to my computer, 3 bottles of sanitizer, hospital-grade disinfectant wipes and spray. Each day we are greeted with another guest, not knowing where they are traveling from and what their business is in the area. Each day is a potential risk os catching the virus from a reckless guest.
Among all the craziness going on in the world, there is still faith left in humanity. Churches have been closed to flatten the curve, but worldwide, we see people out on their balconies, hundreds, if not thousands, singing songs of praise. Partygoers and those alike stand out on their balconies with music blasting, pumping their fists. Musicians and vocalists gather on their balconies to place sweet sounds, echoing through the streets of Italy. Young people checking up on their elderly neighbors to ensure they are okay for groceries. The elderly refusing ventilators and instead of offering them to younger people who still have a full life to live. The lockdown laws have allowed for each country to regenerate, canals in Italy tuning clear for the first time in hundreds of years. Flora and Fauna making amazing appearances and even the purity of the air have said to be much better.
2020 is the year that broke and then healed the world.
I remember first hearing about this virus going around in early March, it started out with some shared posts on social media buy my international friends, and quickly reached the ears of those in Australia. In just a blink of an eye, our nation began panic buying. Toilet paper became the center of attention, fistfights and loud verbal arguments being posted up onto social media. People turned into animals, the fight for survival. The panic buying continued to the point where shelves were now stripped of canned foods, pasta, rice, noodles and so forth. Only a month ago, this same nation outstretched their arms to those who were affected by the bush fires, and now, we've completely flipped the tables.
Australia watched as every other country went into lockdown almost immediately, and little by little, stage 1, 2, and 3, Australia finally closed its borders and went into lockdown. The first of many businesses to be affected by this pandemic was the airlines. How can an airline operate, if we don't have anyone flying in and out? Qantas and Jetstar let go of 20,000 employees over a span of just a few weeks. I have a very close friend who works for Jetstar who has been put out of a job and left to rely on his annual leave as a source of income. Bar, clubs, and dine in restaurants were the next to have their doors sealed. I walked through town and watched local restaurants clearing out their shops, furniture stacked up against the walls, emptying out their shop, sitting there on the floor with their head in their hands.
The world, or more so, my world was being introduced to words and phrases like "quarantine", "self-isolation", and my favorite of all time "social distancing". People who have just traveled from overseas are required to go into quarantine and self-isolate for 14 days. Social distancing, whenever you are out in public, keep gap of 1.5 meters between you and anyone else, or a 4 square meter space between each person. Wash your hands repeatedly, cough in your elbow, sanitize the life out of everything you are about to touch, and if possible, wear gloves and face masks if available. Were not allowed to be out in public with more than 1 other person. Banned from going outside at all unless it's for an essential reason; exercise, work, accessing medical services, purchasing food. We are not allowed to be in the car making unnecessary trips, or if you are in the car with another person, you must keep the 1.5 distance unless you live with them. Places of worship have now also been banned.
I see on social media, nurses, and doctors quitting their jobs because of the lack of access to proper medical equipment. I also see videos of people out in public spitting on food that is sold in stores. I see employees spitting on the floors of their workplaces and a man removing his mask, fiddles with his mouth using his hand and then continues to smother his hand all over public transport handrails. The news feels like a repeat every single day, every channel, every network is coverage of this virus. Social media is flooded with virus-related memes and quarantine Instagram challenges.
I work on the front desk in a hotel and we are considered an essential service. Our doors stay open to all those who require accommodation. When I am at home in my bed, I completely forget that outside the world is going mad. It's not until I show up to work, and begin sanitizing everything in reception does the fear enter my mind again. Disposable gloves, face mask, glen 20 next to my computer, 3 bottles of sanitizer, hospital-grade disinfectant wipes and spray. Each day we are greeted with another guest, not knowing where they are traveling from and what their business is in the area. Each day is a potential risk os catching the virus from a reckless guest.
Among all the craziness going on in the world, there is still faith left in humanity. Churches have been closed to flatten the curve, but worldwide, we see people out on their balconies, hundreds, if not thousands, singing songs of praise. Partygoers and those alike stand out on their balconies with music blasting, pumping their fists. Musicians and vocalists gather on their balconies to place sweet sounds, echoing through the streets of Italy. Young people checking up on their elderly neighbors to ensure they are okay for groceries. The elderly refusing ventilators and instead of offering them to younger people who still have a full life to live. The lockdown laws have allowed for each country to regenerate, canals in Italy tuning clear for the first time in hundreds of years. Flora and Fauna making amazing appearances and even the purity of the air have said to be much better.
2020 is the year that broke and then healed the world.
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