An emergency medic, based with South Western Ambulance Service, has made an emotional plea to the general public to listen to the government’s directions regarding staying at home.
In a post shared on social media, the medic said:
“As most of you know, I work as ambulance crew for the Southwestern Ambulance Service, and I feel like I have just thrown my colleague to the wolves.
“I have just had to help my crewmate suit up, tied an apron around his waist helped him adjust his mask for best fit, and thrown him to the wolves, because, you see, when we attend a suspected COVID case only one of us can go into the call.
“The other stays ‘safe’ in the truck in an attempt to limit the risks to trust personnel.
“I am sat here, struggling to hold back the tears, putting on a brave face for my colleagues and the public, but the reality is that every single caregiver in this country is feeling the same.
“We never know if our colleagues will become infected if they do, will they have mild symptoms or not? All we can do is check their PPE, adjust their masks and hope to the gods that they walk out safely, but we won’t know that for weeks yet, because this is my reality every single shift now.
“I don’t care if you think you are invincible… I don’t care if you’ve already had the virus, or NEED that bag of compost/ride around the woods/walk on the beach; please ask yourself what you could be doing to your community by going out!
“Please don’t let me cry outside YOUR house as my colleague risks his life when all I can do is tie his apron and hope.”
The emotional plea was made after it emerged that many people had flouted the government’s life-saving rules which stipulate that people must only leave their homes to get essential provisions, to exercise or to go to work if unable to work at home.
Gatherings (when exercising) must be no larger than two people unless you live under the same roof as each other.
The measures are essential to stop the spread of COVID-19, which has so far claimed the life of eight NHS workers, four London Bus employees and 4934 members of the public.
There have been 47,806 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UK, but because COVID-19 tests are currently only carried out in hospitals, the actual number of COVID-19 instances in the community could be 10x that figure.
Birmingham is currently the worst affected area with 1,246 confirmed cases, whereas Rutland is the least affected area with six confirmed cases.
The government has stated that if you do have to go out, then you must stay at least two metres away from other people at all times.
For the lastest COVID-19 information and advice visit: gov.uk/coronavirus
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