We need to do our bit
It is a challenging time for our community, globally and locally. With the quickly evolving situation of the coronavirus, there is a strong feeling public sentiment has significantly shifted; that it's not business as usual.
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My sister is a registered nurse at Albury Wodonga Health, Albury campus and over the past few weeks we have been messaging on a daily basis to check in as the situation has continued to unfold. As the number of cases have grown we talked about what this situation means for our health care workers, their families, and how there isn't the choice to stay home.
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My sister chose her job as she simply loves to help people and has a heart of gold which makes her and others in health care, unique and essential to us.
I, like my sister, have no reservations about the great support and care our health care workers give. We spoke openly about the challenges she feels she faces, going into an environment where there is no doubt she and her colleagues will be exposed.
She holds great confidence in the health and safety practices of our health workers, it's second nature - they do it every day. But she spoke about the lack of control she has in those who are coming into the hospital.
She is fit, young and healthy. But she is very conscious that there are members within our community and family who are highly vulnerable to the virus, and as a result has taken significant measures to limit contact with those members of our family.
In the past week we have both been reaching out to family and friends, talking about the seriousness of the coronavirus and the measures they can take to protect and prepare, while asking them to reach out to others to pass along the message.
Our health care workers are at the forefront, doing their upmost to help us and are placing their families on hold while they do so. We owe them a great deal and the best way we can do this right now is by individually taking responsiblity for our actions. We need to wash our hands regularly, practice social distancing and keep our movements outside of the home to the essentials.
Be mindful of yourself and others. If you are showing symptoms of the coronavirus, don't turn up at the hospital, call your GP or call Albury Wodonga Health to see if you meet the criteria for testing.
To all our health professionals on the Border who are putting on the scrubs and turning up to work today: thank you. We are thinking of you and your families during this time and thank you for the sacrifice and service you always continue to give to us all in our times of need.
Jacqui Hawkins, Wodonga
Gone too far
Well, Maccas at Lavington has done it again. First they tried to force people to use their kiosks when ordering; if you didn't use them, you didn't get served. Now, like the other Maccas, they are not providing newspapers, which is understandable.
So if you want to read your daily Border Mail at Maccas (who doesn't), then don't go to Maccas at Lavington. Happy panicking.