6 JANUARY 14, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Scott LoBaido, 55, from Staten Island posts a large “Thank You” note dedicated to the health workers of the nearby Elmhurst Hospital Center in
March. Photo by REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
RPOZARYCKI@QNS.COM
@ROBBPOZ
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 aft er 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 health care 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
eff ects.
They answered that call at a time
when no vaccine was available, and
no one had an eff ective treatment
for those suff ering 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 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,
sacrificed 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
PEOPLE OF THE YEAR
They answered the call: Our health
Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray visit NYC Health +
Hospitals/Queens to applaud and thank medical staff on Friday, May 15,
2020. Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Offi ce
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