Shelly-Ann Parchment, 46,  an emergency room unit coordinator at North Shore Medical Center, works with Covid-19 patients continuously.

“I learn a lot about new cases with patients everyday, and my type of job helps to be able to identify different symptoms.”

Parchment says everyday she goes to the ER there is a procedure she has to go through, where they give hand sanitizer, as well as wear a mask. Temperatures are also taken daily. 

“As for patient care,  it is mandatory to wear masks. If they meet that criteria for COVID-19 they are immediately quarantined in the negative pressure room”, said Parchment. 

  However, most patients have been able to recover. “ They have luckily been able to later go back to their normal lives”, said Parchment.

Some of their symptoms were shortness of breath, fever, loss of taste and smell and diarrhea. Some of the more severe cases were fevers that went over 100 degrees for five days straight, shortness of breath to the point that basic walking was considered tiring.

 “ A good practice would be to social distance and wear masks”, according to Parchment.

“People who are in close contact with patients with the coronavirus are expected to wear their PPE ( personal protective equipment)” said Parchment.

This includes gloves, disposable gowns, N-95 masks and face shields.

“I feel as much as having to wear a mask is frustrating, it is absolutely necessary,” said Parchment. 

“There is no vaccine or a cure as of now for COVID-19, so it is mandatory to wear your protective equipment.” 

“When you see people suffering with COVID, it encourages you to take the necessary protocol to ensure that you do not end up catching it,” said Parchment.