20 Heartbreaking Photos Of Overworked Medics Who Are Fighting To Save COVID-19 Patients

As the number of people infected with the novel coronavirus continues to soar, health care systems in many places seem to be crumbling under the pressure. More than 45,000 people have been infected in the US alone and the global count has surpassed 380,000. The world death toll has reached 16,595 and it seems like it will take a mammoth effort to prevent the pandemic from spreading any more. Medical workers everywhere are now on the front line fighting to save the lives of those infected by the virus. Due to the sudden surge of critical care and limited availability of doctors and nurses, medical employees are putting in extra hours of work.

Sharing the heartbreaking reality of what's it's like to be in the front and center while fighting this health crisis, medical workers everywhere have uploaded pictures that are sure to bring you to tears. While we get the opportunity to stay and rest at home, there are tirelessly working long shifts that leave their faces severely bruised. Some don't even have proper pieces of equipment to work with, but are still sacrificing it all just to keep everyone safe.  Here's a look at these heroes at work:

1. "I don't love selfies. Yesterday, though, I took this photo. After 13 hours in ICU after taking off all my protective devices."

2.

3. "This is my new reality. Our unit has turned into an ITU and I spent 10.5hrs with 1hr off in full PPE with covid patients."

4. "For those who still underestimate it, for those who say "I'm young and I won't get sick" I tell you that it's not like that, I touch it with hand every day and I almost wish they would like to do a nice gf in our CPR."

5. "We don't sleep, we don't eat, I wasn't even in the toilet, I don't remember. The phone rings almost continuously."

6.

7. "As most of the world is isolating, shutting down, and running as far a away from the virus this guy, will be running into it. This guy is my guy and he is an emergency room doctor."

8.

9.

10.

11.

12. "Life as a front line during this period ain’t easy, to be honest it sucks."

13.

14. This is an anesthesiologist, Dr. John Henao, who is running out of PPE (personal protective equipment) at his hospital.

15. "This is me when last night, at midnight, I finished my shift in the covid department." 

16. "I'm afraid because the mask may not adhere well to the face, or I may have accidentally touched myself with dirty gloves, or maybe the lenses do not completely cover my eyes and something may have passed... I can't afford the luxury of going back to my quarantined house, I have to go to work and do my part. You do yours, I ask you please."

17. "Just finished a 12-hour shift swabbing symptomatic covid19 patients are our drive-thru testing site in Cleveland. We collectively swabbed 629."

18.

19. "I’m not afraid when I’m at work. I’m doing what I was trained to do. I’m afraid when we run out of resources— supplies and staff. Covid19 is real and it’s here. Stay home, wash your hands and stop buying all the things that healthcare workers need to do their job."

20. "Hospital policy now masks at all times. I have been doing it in CCU anyhow. Critical step to reduce transmission, for example among asymptomatic HCWs. Not sure can do nationally because not enough masks. Need more than proclamations - need factories converted and running."

Disclaimer: Information about COVID-19 is swiftly changing, and McGill is committed to providing the most recent and verified updates in our articles and reportage. However, considering the frequency in developments, some of the information/data in this article may have changed since the time of publication. Therefore, we encourage you to also regularly check online resources from local public health departments, the Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization.