OUR PEOPLE OF THE YEAR:
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
The army of doctors, nurses,
lab technicians, orderlies and
other health care workers of New
York City were called into duty
like never before not long after the
fi rst confi rmed COVID-19 case in
the fi ve boroughs was reported on
March 2.
We can think of no greater
group of individuals in this city to
honor, and we urge you to join us
in applauding the frontline healthcare
workers of New York — our
People of the Year for 2020.
Why should they be honored?
Because they answered the call
when New York needed them the
most.
They answered that call despite
the dangers of the rapid-spreading
virus with its debilitating and lethal
effects.
They answered that call at a
time when no vaccine was available,
and no one had an effective
treatment for those suffering the
most from the illness.
They answered that call as
more and more patients fi lled
their hospitals in the dark days of
March and April.
They answered that call at a
time when they did not have all
the necessary supplies to treat
patients and protect themselves
while doing so.
They answered that call even
as their colleagues would fall sick
to the contagion themselves, and
too many of them died as a result.
They answered that call even
COURIER L 10 IFE, JANUARY 8-14, 2021
while enduring the emotional
trauma of losing patients to
COVID-19, and serving as the fi -
nal link between those patients
and loved ones unable to see them
in person but were left to make
their goodbyes via cellphone or
computer.
Countless health care workers
in this city, as they took on this
virus, sacrifi ced so very much of
themselves personally. They took
great pains not to bring the virus
to their loved ones in any way.
Many stayed away from loved
ones in the groups most vulnerable
to contracting the worst symptoms
of the virus. Some even isolated
themselves in hotel rooms
and other places to avoid bringing
the contagion home.
They missed holidays, birthdays,
weddings, funerals, other
family rites of passage because
duty called, the lives of New Yorkers
hung in the balance — and
they answered it with every fi ber
of themselves.
Not since the horrors of Sept.
11, 2001 has the city witnessed and
appreciated such sacrifi ce. On that
day of tragedy, it was the phalanx
of police offi cers and fi refi ghters
who ran into the World Trade Center,
at risk to themselves, when
everyone else was running out;
though the attack cost 3,000 lives,
tens of thousands of others were
saved through such heroism.
The COVID-19 pandemic
wrought incomprehensible devastation
on our city during the fi rst
wave. Now, amid the second wave,
the frontline healthcare workers
fi nd themselves sacrifi cing themselves
once more to save lives as
more patients enter their hospitals,
clinics and offi ces.
They keep running into danger
as the rest of us socially distance,
mask up and look to keep away
from it. That is the very defi nition
of heroism.
In the days of spring, New
Yorkers began holding an annual
applause at 7 p.m. each night to
thank these special people for
stepping up in our defense. It was
a small gesture of gratitude from
a grateful city that will forever be
in their debt.
The struggle against COVID-19
is far from over, and the vaccine
offers hope that the end is fi nally
in sight. But we can fi nd some
comfort knowing that between
now and the end of the crisis —
and long after the pandemic is but
a painful memory — these heroic
men and women stepped up to do
their job, care for the sick, comfort
the dying and heal this city.
We applaud and thank all of
our frontline healthcare workers
for the sacrifi ces they’ve made.
And if you’re looking for the best
way to thank them, there is but
one answer: stay safe. Mask up.
Keep socially distant. Get the vaccine
when it is available to you.
Let’s do all that we can to
thank and protect our healthcare
heroes — because they answered
the call.