Former US president Barack Obama on Tuesday tweeted in appreciation of the work of health professionals against the raging novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Obama described these health professionals as “being on the front line of this pandemic”.
Obama tweeted, “We owe a profound debt of gratitude to all our health professionals and everybody who’ll be on the front lines of this pandemic for a long while. They’re giving everything. May we all model our own behaviour on their selflessness and sacrifice as we help each other through this.”
Obama’s tweet was in response to a heart-breaking Twitter thread by the wife of an ER (emergency doctor), who has been treating cases of novel coronavirus.
Patzer tweeted that the couple had three young children, including a three-week-old infant. “It pains me to wonder how many weeks will go by that he won’t get to hold our new baby or see our older kids. This is one example of the sacrifice that healthcare workers are making for our communities,” Patzer wrote.
Explaining her struggles, Patzer wrote, “As I attempt to home school my kids (alone) with a new baby who screams if she isn’t held, I am worried about the health of my spouse and my family. This was not how I envisioned my maternity leave, but I know things could be worse.”
She took issue with people who have been flouting social distancing advisories by socialising. “It is difficult to see pictures of all the people at bars and restaurants, socializing, making play dates, and ignoring social distancing recommendations when I know my husband and many other healthcare workers are risking their lives to treat more sick patients,” Patzer wrote.
“Please, take this #pandemic seriously. I hope the projections of infections and serious cases are incorrect. If not, our healthcare system will be overloaded. And already we are seeing the strain. Please thank a healthcare worker for what they are doing and sacrificing,” Patzer wrote in the conclusion of her thread.
Since early March, Obama has been active on Twitter, asking people to adhere to government advisories on the novel coronavirus.
