I am an Essential Worker: And America Is Not Ready to Reopen

The other day I was in my living room looking through my window and I saw a plane rising into the sky for the first time in over a month. Since the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdowns, air travel has gone down significantly. But as the days and months have passed, and protests from unsettled Americans rises, the country is opening back up-even though there has been no significant testing.

I don’t consider myself a worrywart, but the country opening without proper testing plans put into place concerns me.

When the lockdowns started, I had an essential job at a major corporation, who shall remain nameless for the sake of legality. This job put into place “cleaning regimens” for workers, and used thermometer testing to see if workers had fevers before they were allowed to enter into the building. Everyone had to wear masks and gloves. Work shifts were staggered to prevent crowding. And everyone tried to work six feet apart-which quite literally was impossible in the confined space.

Even with the new safety measures at work, by mid-April, mass texts were being sent out to workers that there were confirmed cases of COVID-19 at various worksites. Each time a person had a confirmed case of COVID-19, all workers were sent text alters. The texts did not suddenly stop, they only grew.

I would like to say that my essential job was a unique case. But it is not. Meatpacking industry workers are also becoming infected so much, that it is now becoming a looming threat to the food chain. MSNB just reported that UPS and USPS workers are also becoming infected at an alarming rate. An 8th Amazon warehouse employee has died. Nuclear power plant workers are getting infected. Behind the scenes-mayhem ensues.

“If a country doesn’t test effectively, they don’t really know where the virus is, or how many people have it.” -Vox

And still, people are demanding that the country reopen so they can get haircuts, pedicures, and other nonessential treatments. They want the country to reopen without a logical testing plan in place, simply because they are restless, or have delusions that they are being held in their homes like slaves. (Tell me the last time slaves were held in houses and allowed the freedom to leisure as they please).

I understand that people are worried about the economy, they may even be running out of savings and struggling to pay bills. But instead of thinking that this virus is fake news and protesting that the government needs to allow them to work, people really should be protesting a sensical testing plan so we can all safely go back to work.

“As of mid-May, about 3% of the population had been tested for COVID-19.” -Vox

The foundation of America is still it’s essential workers, and we as essential workers know COVID-19 is still very real and that it is rapidly spreading. We know that our co-workers are getting sick. We know that your packages and food may be unknowingly contaminated with the COVID-19 virus because there has been too little testing.

I too want America to reopen again, and I want to see my friends. But I also know people who have been affected by loved ones who have gotten sick with this virus. I know that it can ravage someone’s lungs past the point of no return. I know that it can make someone who has an underlying health issue weak for weeks.

So, let’s not settle for less and divide. Let’s acknowledge the truth that COVID-19 is real. Instead of demanding haircuts, how about demanding logical plans for testing. Plans that ensure even asymptomatic people who have the virus are spotted and properly isolated before heading back to work.

Let’s support testing and proper care for our essential workers who handle the essence of life, food. If not for their sake, then for your own sake seeing as you too need safe essentials as well.

In reality, it is terrible to watch someone you love get sick. It’s even worse to watch someone get sick when it could have been preventable.