PEOPLE OF THE YEAR:
Bronx health care workers
(above) Nurses at Interfaith Medical Center (below) Nurses at Interfaith Medical Center clap at 7 p.m. Photo by Todd Maisel
Celebrating our Bronx Healthcare Heroes
BY ROBB 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 detected on March
2, 2020.
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 rapidspreading
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.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 30 AN. 15-21, 2021 BTR
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 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