To capture in real-time the pandemic stories playing out across the US, we’ve launched a #Covid19 oral history project with @vermontgmg. Our first chapter is on people who are ill with the virus, and the voices of health care workers taking care of them 1/ wired.trib.al/3IyKGcu
Morgan Madison, age 18, Chandler, AZ:
“Trump told us it was never going to hit the United States. He said there were like three cases. I thought I definitely wouldn't get it—if there are just a handful of cases, why would I be one?” 2/
“Trump told us it was never going to hit the United States. He said there were like three cases. I thought I definitely wouldn't get it—if there are just a handful of cases, why would I be one?” 2/
Anne Kornblut, director, news and new initiatives, Facebook, Palo Alto, CA:
“I tested positive for Covid-19 [last week]. I’m relatively fine; lucky, even. Around here, officials have been preparing, so much so that I was able to get a test when I needed it.” 3/
“I tested positive for Covid-19 [last week]. I’m relatively fine; lucky, even. Around here, officials have been preparing, so much so that I was able to get a test when I needed it.” 3/
Amee Vanderpool, writer and lawyer, Washington, DC:
“I felt like I was hit by a bus and very tired. I felt like I was getting a head cold. My breathing started becoming constricted around my lower ribs, not high up in my throat and lungs like with an asthma attack.” 4/
“I felt like I was hit by a bus and very tired. I felt like I was getting a head cold. My breathing started becoming constricted around my lower ribs, not high up in my throat and lungs like with an asthma attack.” 4/
Coryn Wolk, photographer, Philadelphia, PA:
“My father is recovering from a mild case of coronavirus, and my mother is making a show of staying six feet away from him until his quarantine ends. Last night, we had a family conference call ...” 5/
“My father is recovering from a mild case of coronavirus, and my mother is making a show of staying six feet away from him until his quarantine ends. Last night, we had a family conference call ...” 5/
Meredith Case, internal medicine resident, Columbia University Medical Center:
“The deluge is here. Our ICU is completely full with intubated Covid patients. We are rapidly moving to expand capacity.” 6/
“The deluge is here. Our ICU is completely full with intubated Covid patients. We are rapidly moving to expand capacity.” 6/
Mary Macdonald, emergency department nurse, Oakland County, MI:
“It’s getting to the point now that we’re going to be just like Italy. We intubated from 10 pm last night until this morning. We intubated two of my patients within a half-hour …” 7/
“It’s getting to the point now that we’re going to be just like Italy. We intubated from 10 pm last night until this morning. We intubated two of my patients within a half-hour …” 7/
Craig Spencer, Director of Global Health in Emergency Medicine, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center:
“You’re notified of another really sick patient coming in. You rush over. They’re also extremely sick, vomiting. They need to be put on life support ...” 8/
“You’re notified of another really sick patient coming in. You rush over. They’re also extremely sick, vomiting. They need to be put on life support ...” 8/
Mary Macdonald, emergency department nurse:
“Resources are very slim. We have no medications to keep these patients even ventilated—let alone ventilators. Medications like fentanyl or propofol that would keep a patient sedated while they’re intubated we’re out of.” 9/
“Resources are very slim. We have no medications to keep these patients even ventilated—let alone ventilators. Medications like fentanyl or propofol that would keep a patient sedated while they’re intubated we’re out of.” 9/
Rob Davidson emergency room physician, Michigan:
“What will we do when a significant number of healthcare workers succumb to the Coronavirus?” 10/
“What will we do when a significant number of healthcare workers succumb to the Coronavirus?” 10/
Esther Choo, emergency physician:
My heart may never recover from all the people dropping off personal supplies of gloves and N95 masks and offering to sew facemasks for hospital workers. 11/
My heart may never recover from all the people dropping off personal supplies of gloves and N95 masks and offering to sew facemasks for hospital workers. 11/
To continue to tell this story, we need your help. Please write to @vermontgmg and share how #Covid19 is affecting your life. More details here: wired.trib.al/AoJJAzY
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