(New York, NY)– A lakes area nurse who continues to assist at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic gives us an update on the situation in New York City. Diana Montgomery of Arnolds Park has been assisting nurses at two hospitals in that city that has been very hard hit by the virus. Montgomery has been working there several weeks now. And she tells KUOO news she will remain there another couple of months or so…
“They’re afraid of not only another wave of it in the Fall with the flu season, but they’re afraid of another wave when they begin to kind of slow down with the social distancing and get back out in the community. They’re afraid of that, too. We still are very heavy loaded patient wise at the hospital, the virus, you know, I still have not had one that has not had the virus. I have not had a patient with a normal E-R patient with like a broken elbow or arm.”
Montgomery says personal protective equipment remains hit-or-miss…
“I can go to work one day and have gear from head to toe and come in the next day and they don’t have N-95 masks. We did bring some out that we had given to us from some of the hospitals where I worked in the cities, too, but I didn’t bring one that day because I thought well, they have one every day for us. But they did not, so. I had a child’s mask on that day which, you know, I’ve been a nurse long enough I’m not scared of too much, but yeah, was I protected? Probably not. But now I carry my N-95 in my backpack so I’m prepared. But it’s a hit and miss. The Governor said that they’re bringing more supplies in so it’s all going to be good in the end, I’m sure.”
Montgomery says the people of New York have been very grateful for the work they’ve been doing…
“At night you can hear clapping from 30 to 70 stories up in these high rises for the essential workers. They really have been great people to us. Restaurants have been donating food to the hospitals every single day so we have something to eat. So it’s been really nice.”
Montgomery once again thanks everyone back here in the Iowa Great Lakes for their support as well.
