Neck to neck with the virus, threats are another thing that public health workers have to deal with since many people are angry that the workers are condemning the idea of loosening restrictions because of the possibility of a second wave. But what some people don’t realize is that some doctors have it harder than others.
What We Know:
- Emily Brown, the director of the Rio Grande Public Health Department in rural Colorado, struggles during this pandemic because she works alongside 5 full-time employees for more than 11,000 residents and the number of cases is continuing to rise, which puts a lot of stress on Brown and her employees.
- County commissioners were trying to push to loosen public health restrictions in late May, despite Brown’s advising them not to. Brown continued trying to reason with them on the risks of reopening businesses, even if it meant her losing the job that allowed her to take care of her family.
- That day came when commissioners had called her in and fired her. “They finally were tired of me not going along the line they wanted me to go along,” she said.
- Unfortunately, things turned from bad to worst for public health workers, people who are on the front lines trying to help and protect people all over the world from this virus. A lot of elected officials and members of the public are growing impatient and frustrated with the lockdown and safety protocols to the point where public health workers were turned into punching bags when a lot of them received verbal and physical threats and blame from the public and elected officials.
- One of the threats happened on Thursday, where Ohio’s state health director had armed protesters come to her house, which caused her to resign. A lot of health officials have chosen to leave their jobs to protect themselves.
According to AP News, health officials from North Carolina to California have left their posts because of a mix of backlash and stressful, nonstop work, all while dealing with chronic staffing and funding shortages.
