With each hour, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to grow. At the time of this writing, there are more than 594,000 cases globally, and 93,300 cases in the US — the most of any other country in the world. But, by the time that you read this, there may be even more. As Americans do their best to stay home and self-isolate, doctors, nurses, and first responders sadly don't have that luxury. They are on the front lines of the coronavirus, whether they like it or not, and sadly, many feel as though they're fighting a losing battle, as ventilators, masks, and other personal protection equipment (PPE) run dangerously low.
If you've been wondering how you can help support the selfless heroes who are working round-the-clock to save lives right now, here are some ways to show them you care.
Have lunch delivered to a hospital near you
Doctors, nurses, and other health care workers are working around the clock to provide treatment for COVID-19 patients, which is taking a toll in more ways than one — especially now that many hospitals are experiencing overcrowding.
“I’m mentally and physically exhausted,” one Pittsburgh nurse, who asked to remain anonymous, told Time this week. “I’m here to help the community but at the same time, I’m probably exposing them.”
Some communities are stepping in however they can, by donating sandwiches, pizzas, and other food to medical staffers who may not have time to even pop into the cafeteria for a bite.
You can crowdfund among friends to have food delivered to a nearby hospital or Google for donation efforts that are already in place in your area.
For example, in New York City, America's epicenter of the virus, a GoFundMe page called "Empty Your Purse to Feed a Nurse" was created earlier this week to help send free meals to doctors and nurses at medical centers throughout the city. To date, it's raised more than $22,500 to help a Manhattan eatery known as Ruby's Cafe deliver food to health care workers.
If delivering the food yourself, consider having your kiddos draw pictures or "Thank You" messages of hope to include with the delivery. It may seem small, but it's a sweet way to lift spirits as they pause between patients.
Donate to PPE funds
One of the most pressing issues facing health care workers right now is the shortage of PPE supplies.
Nurses at one New York hospital have reportedly resorted to wearing trash bags over their scrubs to provide more protection. In LA, a severe shortage of N95 masks has forced medical staff to rewear the same ones for days.
"This crisis is only growing and it’s essential that we not only have all the right equipment but that we come together to help and support one another," a spokesperson for Elmhurst Medical Center told The New York Times.
Ventilators are also in high demand right now, as many patients in critical condition are relying on them to breathe, but many hospitals are in short supply.
Luckily, though, there are many citizen-led organizations you can donate to that are working to provide more PPE supplies to hospitals in need.
GetusPPE.org, DonatePPE.org, and Mask Match all allow you to help in various ways — whether it be to request masks, donate them, or donate funds to help purchase more. You can learn more and stay up-to-date by scanning the hashtag #GetUsPPE on Twitter.
Showing you care (even in small ways) means more than you know
We're all going through it right now, and rising rates of fear of anxiety are only normal in a time of uncertainty. But for those who work in hospitals, the tension is on another level.
“It’s pretty overwhelming," one Tennessee nurse told Time. "This is the most anxious I’ve ever felt in my entire life. This is the most stressed out I’ve ever been.”
Showing your support for those on the front lines can be as small as message of hope you hang in your window.
Or, it could be in community-wide gesture of gratitude and solidarity.
According to Gothamist, New York City residents are planning to lean out their windows or step outside and hold a 2-minute clap for essential workers throughout the city.
It's also worth mentioning that in addition to doctors and nurses, many other workers who are considered essential right now are also putting themselves in harm's way to help us all. And that ranges from police officers and firefighters to grocery store cashiers and fast-food delivery workers.
“Workers in food stores are the ones keeping this nation from going into civil unrest,” John T. Niccollai, president of Local 464A of the United Food & Commercial Workers, told The New York Times. “Because if there is no one working in the stores, we are in trouble.”
Listen to their pleas — and stay home
At the end of the day, perhaps the greatest show of support you can give is to heed the warnings of medical experts everywhere: Stay home.
Last week, health care workers throughout the country took to social media to urge Americans not to take COVID-19 lightly. Staying home, and implementing an aggressive plan of social distancing, is our best defense against spreading the disease further and overloading the health care system.
One viral image that was shared thousands of times across Instagram and Twitter was this one — in which hospital staff held up signs reading: “We stayed at work for you. You stay at home for us.”
The advice is simple, but true.
As our hearts continue to break over the exhausted images of health care workers being shared across social media, may they serve as sobering reminders that the greatest gift we can give them right now is our health.
