Unexpected Essential Workers on the Frontlines

Unexpected Essential Workers on the Frontlines

Raquelle Espiricueta

NORWELL – As we delve deeper and deeper into the COVID-19 pandemic, the people on the frontlines are not who you would expect. The nurses and hospital staff are first and foremost, but there are others behind the scenes that are keeping society afloat. 

            Small business owners, local restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, and more all are considered essential. In many of these places though, the employees are not given proper protective gear. In this time of crisis, these people go to work every day. They interact with several hundreds of people daily.  

            Olivia Rys, 17, from Hull Massachusetts, had some interesting points as to what the COVID-19 situation has brought to her daily life. Rys works at the Marylou’s in Hull, her daily tasks include making coffees, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces at least once every hour, tending money, and interacting with customers face to face. 

            “I definitely feel more anxious now before shifts than I did months ago,” said Rys.

            Rys fears she may pass the virus onto her family members, as she is in presumably good health and most likely would not know if she contracted the virus. 

            “We see a variety of people who are all taking a different level of precaution, and when you see someone walk in without a mask or gloves coming close to you it can be scary, especially living with two people who are over 50”, said Rys. 

            It is disheartening to know that there are teenagers that fear for the lives of their loved ones. 

            Rys was surprised to find out Marylou’s was considered “essential” to people, as one would assume a coffee could just be made at home, and being able to go somewhere to buy a coffee would be more of a luxury.

            Unfortunately, not all essential workers are given the tools they need to protect themselves from the spread of COVID-19. 

            There was a shortage of masks and gloves at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The essential workers of Marylou’s in Hull have not been given all the proper protective gear to continue working without being afraid. 

            “They are supposed to provide us with gloves and masks, but we haven’t gotten any recently. We’re supposed to wear gloves when handling cash, but we haven’t been able to get any, so it is just been a lot of hand sanitizer recently. We’re working on getting plastic dividers for the counters too”, said Rys. 

            When being asked what Rys would suggest to the people that are not essential workers, she replied with this statement. 

            “Stretch your money and stay at home so you can get back to work ASAP”, said Rys. 

            The COVID-19 pandemic has come into the world full swing. People have lost loved ones, family members, and friends.

            A different perspective of a worker in this time is not an essential worker but should be considered that. The food runners in each household, I consider, essential workers. Maria McCoy, from Norwell Massachusetts, is a mother to Raquelle Espiricueta and wife of Stephen McCoy. 

            When asked how she feels about going food shopping she had some strong feelings towards it. 

            “It is like going into war. Everyone is out for themselves, and I can’t even find toilet paper anywhere” said McCoy.

            “I have to go into the grocery store on high alert staying away from people, following the arrows telling me where to go, gloves on, mask on.”, said Mccoy. 

            After being asked why she does not just order the food online she got quite upset. 

            “The food delivery people are booked out for months. That means I HAVE to go to the grocery store myself. If I don’t go, then we starve.” said McCoy. 

            This is the sad truth in many places all over the world. People acting based on fear is very dangerous, but this is the first time anyone alive right now has experienced a pandemic. Citizens are fearful of the unknown of the virus. 

            The situation that we are in is very overwhelming. No one really knows what to do with themselves. Many people are out of work, out of money, and are slowly going nuts in isolation. 

            This pandemic is something that no one that is alive right now has ever gone through. It is a very stressful and overwhelming time. The only way to get through it is to stay strong, and hope it all fizzles out sooner rather than later. 

            Citizens of not only the United States but countries all over the world must wait for an antidote. Some don’t know when they will go back to work. The human race has to stick together at this time of crisis. 

            For now, Governor Charlie Baker has decided to extend quarantine until May 18^th, but it is only a matter of time for him to extend that extension. The further we dig into the virus, the more precautions we must take.