COVID-19 Rant/anxiety

[wheek!guinea]

I hope this is ok here, if not I understand and apologize.

I just need to vent somewhere because I'm so disappointed with our country and their response to this entire crisis. I'm considered an essential worker in the U.S and my employer isn't compensating us with hazard pay and doing nothing effective to protect our health. We don't get free healthcare, and we pay an arm and a leg to save our arms and legs, so those that are out of a job and get sick are doomed. They have given us sanitizer for the counters and our hands but other than that our store still gets a lot of traffic throughout the day. Other essential workplaces here have limited contact among their customers and clients, but our employer has not. I am grateful to still have a job, but the fact that we have to be exposed because of corporate greed is depressing.

Our country has sat on its hands for so long, and some states are still not locked down. They use fear mongering and inaccurate data from politicians rather than doctors and scientists. I watched this video about COVID-19 from Korea's leading doctor right now (linked down below) and felt it had more clear and concise information than we are ever given. I know everyone is super scared right now, but I get more disappointed in my country's leaders more and more.

 

[Merab]

Holding you in my thoughts.
You’re in a difficult situation.

 

[Bill & Ted]

It’s a difficult and a scary time for everyone, we are so lucky here in the UK, we have the NHS and good social support, your People deserve better from the politicians x

 

[Seven7]

I hope this is ok here, if not I understand and apologize.

I just need to vent somewhere because I'm so disappointed with our country and their response to this entire crisis. I'm considered an essential worker in the U.S and my employer isn't compensating us with hazard pay and doing nothing effective to protect our health. We don't get free healthcare, and we pay an arm and a leg to save our arms and legs, so those that are out of a job and get sick are doomed. They have given us sanitizer for the counters and our hands but other than that our store still gets a lot of traffic throughout the day. Other essential workplaces here have limited contact among their customers and clients, but our employer has not. I am grateful to still have a job, but the fact that we have to be exposed because of corporate greed is depressing.

Our country has sat on its hands for so long, and some states are still not locked down. They use fear mongering and inaccurate data from politicians rather than doctors and scientists. I watched this video about COVID-19 from Korea's leading doctor right now (linked down below) and felt it had more clear and concise information than we are ever given. I know everyone is super scared right now, but I get more disappointed in my country's leaders more and more.

No need to apologize. I think it is a good idea to talk thing out instead of holding it inside you. I also find it difficult to believe that this is real.
The worst case scenario would be this current lockdown going on for months. Initially, I was told the lockdown was only until Easter so mid April, but now I am hearing it might go on for months and schools will close until the end of the school year.

 

[Seven7]

Trump announced that the US will be extending the lockdown through April 30th.
This decision was based on recommendations made by health officials. No one is to go back to work for at least another month.
They might even extend the lockdown until June. This is a blow to many Americans who want to go back to work.

 

[Betsy]

Trump announced that the US will be extending the lockdown through April 30th.
This decision was based on recommendations made by health officials. No one is to go back to work for at least another month.
They might even extend the lockdown until June. This is a blow to many Americans who want to go back to work.

Wouldn't be surprised if Boris says the same or similar here. We have to get on top of this awful virus that is killing so many people.

 

[Sweet Potato]

If we can learn anything from China and Italy it's that we have to take this seriously. We are so lucky to have the NHS in this country it's horrible to think of companies profiting off such a horrific situation. I hope you and the people close to you stay well and keep safe.

 

[wheek!guinea]

Trump announced that the US will be extending the lockdown through April 30th.
This decision was based on recommendations made by health officials. No one is to go back to work for at least another month.
They might even extend the lockdown until June. This is a blow to many Americans who want to go back to work.

I have to be at work because I'm considered an essential worker though, and they aren't doing anything to limit our contact with customers. Many places that are essential have had some sort of limited foot traffic but ours have not made this effort . I called out today and refused to go in until corporate stepped in and imposed something. It's sad how many people fail to take this seriously here.

 

[wheek!guinea]

Holding you in my thoughts.
You’re in a difficult situation.

Thank you so much, please stay safe.

 

[DM090820]

I was particularly worried about the US as the health system is set up in such a way that it discourages people from seeking treatment, I knew from the past that there were many millions of Americans without any form of health coverage, many of whom resorted to DIY treatments for what here would be fairly serious conditions. I also remembered the whole debacle over insulin. I also recalled that for most Americans, the insurance deductable is so high that a lot would avoid hospitals, even where it was medically necessary.

Here we have a centralised system, that's going to struggle a great deal, but no-one will avoid treatment or be forced to work with the condition, in the US, the protections for workers are so loose that people are forced to work and spread the virus, or face total destitution. Even ambulance calls often cost several thousand dollars (which is roughly the cost to the NHS in GBP), are often private companies and compared to Europe the training of paramedic staff is, in a lot of areas roughly the equivalent of ours in the 1980s.

Then there's the problem of having 50 largely independent state governments, split along party lines, trying to manage hundreds of different hospital providers, with a Federal government, which is, frankly led by a moron that was until recently passing it off as the flu, add to that incompetence from what is supposed to be the best biodefence organisation in the world, and it's just a perfect storm.

 

[anyar.dris]

I was particularly worried about the US as the health system is set up in such a way that it discourages people from seeking treatment, I knew from the past that there were many millions of Americans without any form of health coverage, many of whom resorted to DIY treatments for what here would be fairly serious conditions. I also remembered the whole debacle over insulin. I also recalled that for most Americans, the insurance deductable is so high that a lot would avoid hospitals, even where it was medically necessary.

Here we have a centralised system, that's going to struggle a great deal, but no-one will avoid treatment or be forced to work with the condition, in the US, the protections for workers are so loose that people are forced to work and spread the virus, or face total destitution. Even ambulance calls often cost several thousand dollars (which is roughly the cost to the NHS in GBP), are often private companies and compared to Europe the training of paramedic staff is, in a lot of areas roughly the equivalent of ours in the 1980s.

Then there's the problem of having 50 largely independent state governments, split along party lines, trying to manage hundreds of different hospital providers, with a Federal government, which is, frankly led by a moron that was until recently passing it off as the flu, add to that incompetence from what is supposed to be the best biodefence organisation in the world, and it's just a perfect storm.

It's the same in the Philippines! You need to have a decent health insurance. Although at least we have the basic universal healthcare there that caters for the poor. We call it PhilHealth. But if you needed an expensive surgery, you better have money. Many people there die of illness because they can't pay for healthcare. My family is lucky because we can afford it but so many will struggle. A lot also rely on crowd funding especially for cases like cancer or needing dialysis, etc. Government also doesn't provide for or prioritise the health care industry. Loads of doctors and nurses in government hospitals end up paying for their patients' hospitalisation out of pity.

My youngest brother is a nurse but he can't find a paying work in hospitals because most want just volunteers. He volunteered for 2 years to gain experience but he couldn't handle longer time. He changed work (medical transcriptionist now I believe) which pays a lot because their clients are overseas. That's why there are so many Filipino healthcare workers over here, in the US, Canada and in the Middle East because that's where the money is.