Italy and Spain are the two European countries most infected with the coronavirus. The number of deaths in Italy is now higher than the one in China. In front of this invisible enemy, people seem defenseless, but that’s not true. Sometimes heroes don’t wear capes; they wear scrubs. Against this new invisible enemy, although we seem to be helpless, we are not. Doctors, nurses, and all medical staff are committed to fight for as long as they can and for as long as it takes to save as many lives as possible.
In a terrified, silent, lockdown Europe, last Sunday, a noise started being heard. It came from the South, from the most infected countries, Spain and Italy, and spread to Greece, and from there, it covered the whole of Europe. In these difficult, strange times where we are all locked in our houses, trying to defend ourselves and our beloved ones, people in Italy, Spain, and Greece made some noise to thank our heroes. The doctors, the nurses, each and everyone who is fighting for us.
It all started in Spain; last Saturday, 14th of March 2020, a message was spread through social media, calling the Spanish to get out on their balconies and make some noise, clap for their heroes. The heroes that we need now, the heroes that are fighting against not only the coronavirus but also against a health system destroyed after all the political decisions that were taken from all the governments during the years of the economic crisis. The message was sent, and people received it, they understood it, and at 10 pm after the public appearance of the President of the Government, Pedro Sanchez, they opened their windows and started clapping with all their hearts for their doctors, their heroes. They freed themselves from their fear by sending all their admiration to those who are in the front line during this war, fighting without any rest.
Italy heard the noise and answered to the call, last Sunday an applaud burst out, spreading across the whole country in order to express their gratitude to their medical stuff that despite the deficiencies, the lack of masks, medical gloves, beds, they are doing their best to cure as many as they can. Images of Italian doctors working extraordinary hours are everywhere on the internet. Doctors that continued even when they didn’t anymore have the means because they could give up on anyone, they gave an oath, and they even gave their lives, as did Marcello Natali. The Italian doctor who exposed the supply shortage in the hospitals, but kept fighting even without gloves or masks, who was later infected and died two days ago.
At the same time last Sunday, Greece also answered the call. Greeks opened their widows, came out to their balconies, and became the next link in the chain. They shouted from the bottom of their heart a massive “Thank you” to their medical staff. But, also, they shouted to their suffering Italians and Spanish neighbors that they are not alone. It doesn’t matter that the borders are shut. It doesn’t matter that we are locked down. We are in this fight together.
WATCH: The whole of Spain bursts into applause in gratitude to coronavirus health workers https://t.co/BtuyyZd5ed
— The Local Spain (@TheLocalSpain) March 14, 2020
A las 22.00 los balcones de toda España se han llenado de aplausos por los servicios sanitarios que luchan contra el coronavirus. El vídeo es de uno de los momentos vividos en La Latina, en el centro de Madrid https://t.co/vKL1kpt4kM pic.twitter.com/eY35QBu6ou
— EL PAÍS (@el_pais) March 14, 2020
La España de los balcones agradece la verdadera responsabilidad. Unidos. pic.twitter.com/C5QBmrmHpA
— Maite Pagazaurtundúa (@maitepagaza) March 15, 2020
The Mediterranean “noise” was just the beginning. Spain initiated it, Italy and Greece followed and then did too the rest of Europe. A simple action. A simple gesture. A big impact. An action of solidarity, an action to overcome our fears, to show that people can save people. It doesn’t matter if the politics that destroyed the public health system are in favor or seem to support this initiative, we all know in our hearts that if it was for them, we would have been completely defenseless. It’s OUR doctors, our nurses, our medical staff that are fighting not only against coronavirus but also against chronic problems and deficiencies. Even the covered mouths have a voice, and we are standing next to them, making our noise, showing our solidarity.
all of spain burst into a round of applause at 10 pm for doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers #AplausoSanitario
— dani (@sqecter) March 14, 2020
this is in pamplona <3 pic.twitter.com/Ss85iKhavP
#Geneva - #switzerland 🇨🇭9pm, 15/03/20 - the whole town is clapping for its INCREDIBLE medical staff. You are our heroes! #thankyou#COVIDー19 #coronavirus #CoronaInfoCH pic.twitter.com/HFClrmzDeF
— Safa Zouaoui (@SafaZouaoui_) March 15, 2020
It’s true this disease, came to point out all the above-mentioned chronic problems, that would be the biggest challenge for the next day. We can, and we should, come out and show our appreciation for doctors, nurses, and every hospital personnel fighting against the virus each and every day. On the other hand, what they need are sustainable jobs, good satisfying salaries, secured labor rights, and better working conditions, equipment, and certainly more personnel. And in this fight to achieve them, they will need us on their side. We have to be, as they are for us now.
Written by Nota Pan
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