Garbage bags instead of workwear: how the medical staff in New York survive during the COVID-19 epidemic

In one of the Manhattan hospitals, Kiyus Kelly, a nurse, died of pneumonia due to coronavirus. The man was probably infected at work. Now his colleagues are resorting to using trash bags to protect themselves from the virus. This publication writes New York Post.

At Mount Sinai West Hospital in New York, the shortage of protective equipment is so acute that desperate nurses use garbage bags to protect them. They began to resort to such measures after one of their colleagues, nurse Kious Kelly, passed away. Some believe that he got infected at work and accuse the hospital of the death of his beloved colleague.

In one of the photos posted on social networks, three nurses at Mount Sinai West Hospital pose in the hallway. They are dressed in large black plastic trash bags, stylized as impromptu protective clothing. One of them even holds an open box of 20 Hefty garbage bags that they used for protection. The photo caption includes hashtags such as #heftytotherescue, #riskingourlivestosaveyours and #pleasedonateppe - ppe means “personal protective equipment”.

Colleagues of the deceased see the relationship between the lack of basic remedies in the hospital and the death of Assistant Care Manager Kiyus Kelly. This 48-year-old man confirmed a positive coronavirus test about two weeks ago.

Kelly was hospitalized at Mount Sinai's flagship Upper East Side hospital on March 17 and died on Tuesday evening, March 24, hospital officials said. “Qiyus did not deserve this,” said one of the nurses. - The hospital should be responsible for this. The hospital killed him. ”

Another nurse noted that supplies problems had been around for about a year. According to her, the situation has "reached such an extent that we had to hide our own supplies and go to other units" in search of remedies. “But when patients with COVID began to appear, the situation became critical,” the nurse said.

One source among medical staff said that they used the same personal protective equipment to work with infected and uninfected patients. In addition, since there were no longer any bathrobes in the hospital, they began to carry garbage bags to stop the spread of infection. “We had to reuse masks and bathrobes,” said one of the nurses. She added that they were promised to issue remedies until they ran out.

On the subject: How it feels to be a NYPD officer during the COVID-19 pandemic

However, at one point, all protective equipment, including masks, wipes, and Purell hand sanitizer, began to fade.

As for Kelly, who died from complications of coronavirus pneumonia, colleagues describe him as a person who is ready to rush to help those in need, especially during an outbreak of coronavirus.

Kelly's younger sister, Marya Sherron of Indianapolis, confirmed his death and said that he had informed her of his illness about 10 days before the tragedy. “He told me he had a coronavirus,” she recalls. - The brother was in intensive care, but thought that everything was fine with him. He didn’t think it was so serious. ”

Sherron is convinced that her brother was infected with the coronavirus in the hospital where he worked. According to Maria, her brother had “severe asthma,” but otherwise he was healthy.

Since Kelly was having difficulty talking on the phone during her illness, they communicated via SMS. But then the man’s condition worsened, and he stopped responding to his sister. This happened about a week ago. “I tried to reach him several times, but the doctors explained that he was on a ventilator,” said Maria.

On March 23, Sister Kelly was informed that he could not stand it, and about 23 hours on Tuesday, March 24, he died. “We are amazed,” she said.

Sherron wants the city to know "what an amazing person my brother is." She is trying to attract the attention of those who will be responsible for his death. “Our nurses and medical staff need protection, and no one is fighting for their safety,” Maria summarized.

Mount Sina’s statement says of Kelly’s death: “We are deeply saddened by the death of our beloved medical staff member. This growing crisis has already devastated hundreds of families and turned our advanced specialists into real American heroes. Today we have lost another hero - a compassionate colleague, friend and selfless guardian. ”