Viewer Beware
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InoNh15rCig
translation from a friend of FluTrackers
Q I want to ask you what is your situation now? About your work, are you all reporting to work? Or are things closed because the city is closed?
A Yes, 90% staff at work.
Q 90? You guys not scared of infection?
A Nothing we can do. We are required to go on the front lines. We have been back at work since 28, 29 of last month (Jan 22, 23).
Q Oh really? Did not take a break?
A Correct. Not taken break. Up to today, haven’t gone home for few nights already.
Q Oh that’s so tough. So what is your work? Do you go and pick up bodies at hospitals? Or you just wait here?
A We have to go, to get the bodies. We’re on standby all day.
Q So which hospitals do you go to? Are there so many bodies? Did so many people die?
A Yes, but I can’t talk to you about this.
Q How many bodies can you transport each night? I heard you’re short of body bags.
A Yes yes yes, we’re short of body bags and protective clothes, also gloves. Some bodies are in double bags.
Q Why?
A Because some hospitals already wrapped them. Some didn’t, and we have to use two layers. Because after someone gone, the gas is still in his stomach. The germs are in the stomach. Easy to spread out during transport. So need two layers body bags.
Q I want to ask, you are in contact with the body, you have infection risk too?
A Yes Q Can get infected…
A Yes Q That’s scary…
A Yes, when a person is gone, the gas stays in the stomach. So when during transport, the gas will get out.
Q So how do you do transport?
A We use protective clothes, protective goggles, N95 masks, then plastic shoes, single use gloves,
Q Standard issue plastic shoes?
A Yes. Right now we’re very short of supplies. Can’t buy anything. We can buy some parts, but now almost used up. Definitely not enough protective clothes. Some can only use raincoat. To wear on outside, instead of protective clothes.
Q Going to hospital to pick up bodies, is that considered front line?
A Yes, give them these protective clothes.Tell them to not eat, tolerate (hunger), eat in afternoon, not eat for whole day.
Q How many hours you work each day? You can’t not eat, right?
A No other way.
Q Now everybody feels that medical teams, nurses, work hard. Turns out you guys also work so hard.
A They work really hard too, they work in the front lines. Our staff are also front line, also work hard. Then have to push the body for cremation, and then the staff have to separate.
Q Don’t you need family’s consent? Are the families present?
A No, no consent. Can’t work through family consent. Family have to be separate. We do the registration, take photos, death certificate, medical certificates, coronavirus certificate. And then directly to cremation. Not going through families. Can’t let them have any contact. The only contact is our staff.
Q Don’t you need family signature?
A No family signature, because we’re afraid of second infection. If family gets contact, they will get infected.
Q How many hours you work each day? From when till when?
A Starting from morning. Can’t say what time to what time, just all day 24 hours. When we come back, some of us don’t go out, then sleep a little, rest a little. If there’s phone call, we hurry and go back to work. Because the body can’t stay too long in hospital.
Q So how many body bags do you need? Can you get as many as you need?
A Yes.
Q 24 hours. So the cremation is 24 hours, and 24 hours transport?
A Yes yes 24 hours
Q After you finish, how to deal with the ashes?
A Ashes, we keep here. Because some family, they are separated. No family can come, what to do? So we put the ashes here with us, keep for them. They (staff) are in front line,
Q....their families very worried.
A Yes, I’m very worried, because I don’t have protective clothes, no protective googles, no masks. I’m so worried. Disinfectant, we’re short of everything. Masks, we need about 250 masks each day.
Q Oh, so many..
A Yes, around 6000 a month.
Q Protective clothes?
A Also need 250 a day, 6000 a month.
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/Office-of-Public-Affairs.aspx
