“Lately I’ve been thinking that putting on our masks and gloves every day, it’s like we’re going to war. It’s like a war against this disease.
I go onto the COVID floor and overall, I wear a lot more PPE now. There’s now masks, more handwashing, and I change my gloves all the time.
I’m a housekeeper, so I pick up waste every day. I go around the hospital and seniors care home and take out the garbage, recycling and bio waste.
One thing I really like about my job is all of the walking and lifting of the bags I get to do. It’s very physical and that part feels good.
I really care about the issues impacting seniors’ homes. Every day on my shift I go to the seniors’ center to pick up garbage. There’s a lady there that’s always so happy to see me. We always wave and smile at each other. That makes me feel good. She wants to go home and I have to try and explain why she can’t, which is hard.
One day when I went through the ER to pick up the garbage, I saw someone I knew. I stopped by to say hello and wish them well. I found out a few days later that they had COVID. We were both wearing masks so it was okay but it made me think that anything can happen. We have to stay safe.”
Tony, Housekeeper, part of the health care team