Hello Friends,

How are you doing? I will dare say that you are very aware of what is going on in the world today. Usually, when I start the podcast I ask what is happening and today, might be different as I will ask you, what is your new normal? Hoping you do not have COVID-19 aka Corona Virus nor a loved one. I am also going to hope that you are not being sick and or quarantined due to the virus.

How has your week been?

The news and the buzzword on every news station is Corona Virus-https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html Please go to the CDC website and read accurate and timely information on the virus. I work in healthcare, but I would rather you get accurate and detailed information from our state and health organizations.

Let us talk a little bit about what is going on around us. Living in the US, most of us have had some form of change in our ways of life. Some of us have had jobs, schools, daycare close/ shut down, travel affected and so much more. We have had to go shopping for necessities (or maybe go because we have heard rumors of store shelves being emptied.

Doctors, nurses, lab technicians, phlebotomists, researchers, daycare workers, grocery store workers, truck drivers, cleaning staff are the ones in the front line. Thank you for all you are doing.

So, you might ask, what is it like working in Healthcare during this time?

I would also say healthcare/ hospital workers will do what we always have done. I work in the histology lab and at this time, we have not been affected much. Most of the surgical procedures and or cases that come to us are critical. Elective procedures are not being performed as most health facilities are working hard to keep supplies, and spots available for people who need to be seen immediately due to Corona Virus.

We have always used PPE (personal protective equipment) because of the work we do; however, at this time, we are being more diligent to wear them. For instance, we are making sure that gloves are being worn, counters are being wiped down, phones are being wiped after calls are taken and so on.

At the doors, visitors are being screened and temperatures are taken of visitors- only guests who are not running a temperature can visit. There is an abundance of hand sanitizers at entrances and there are lots of corners by doors that have hand sanitizer stations too.

I will say that it feels like now, everyone is doing their best to make sure the work gets done. When Staff who must be off due to kids being home from school, other staff and or techs step up and do the work without complaining. It is a beautiful thing to see this selflessness and I am hoping that this teamwork continues.

You might ask, how can you help the people working in healthcare?

I will say:

1. Stay home. If you do not need to travel or go places, stay home

2. Listen to what your city/state says you should do- stay home, practice social distancing

3. If you use Google, the home page had a hand saying “Do the Five”: https://www.google.com/search?q=coronavirus+tips&fbx=dothefive

See the link and click on it if you have not seen it.

Here is the Izora Podcast five:

1. Do the five Google says you should do.

2. Check on the elderly, call, text, email. And if you need reasons to do that see Psalm 71:9

3. Share what you have with the needy- Proverbs 22:9 and if you can afford to, support local businesses

4. Do not hoard. I have gone shopping and not much is left in the aisles. I mean, just the super expensive stuff. Please just get what you need not much more, let everyone be able to get what they need.

5. Pray for the healthcare workers, pray for our cities and the nation that this will pass.

My last word for the day is: do not fear my friends… Do not fear.

Let our faith be in the God who is faithful and hears prayers.

Until next time,

God bless you and stay safe!

Ezanya