Incredible moment nurse faces off with Arizona lockdown protesters after saving lives of coronavirus patients
PICTURES show the incredible moment a nurse faced off with people protesting coronavirus lockdowns in Arizona.
Medic Lauren Leander stood in front of protesters in a face mask and scrubs, with her arms crossed as a man waved a flag in front of her face.
Healthcare workers across the country – including Leander – have amid the .
"This was for all my health care workers. I see you. This was for all my patients. I am here as you. This was for the entire country. Help us help you," Leander wrote in a post with the picture of her and the protesters.
One of Leander's friends and coworkers at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix shared an emotional tribute to the nurse.
"Today she stood up for healthcare workers as protesters descended upon the State Capitol. She stood in silence as people called her a ‘fake nurse’ & ‘paid actor’ amongst other horrendous things," Zahid Saeed wrote.
"Ironically, she has spent many days in the Covid ICU caring for our sickest patients. She stood for those who are on life support and have no voice of their own. She stood for the 42,604 Americans who have died so far," he added.
With 95 percent of the country under stay-at-home orders for several weeks, people across the nation have begun to protest the restrictions.
Protesters have – but many governors have stated they will not ease restrictions while the pandemic continues to sicken people.
Thousands of people have protested the shutdowns in recent weeks, many dismissing the shutdown as an infringement of their constitutional rights.
Protesters argue that they should not be forced to stay home and close their businesses, despite orders from state legislatures.
The organization Reopen Virginia said in a news release: "Government mandating sick people to stay home is called quarantine. However, the government mandating healthy citizens to stay home, forcing businesses and churches to close is called tyranny.”
Many protesters have been outspoken about the economic impacts of the shutdown, noting that Americans are losing jobs increasingly as businesses have been forced to close.
Last week alone, 5.2 million Americans filed for unemployment.
Donald Trump announced last week that , as he unveiled a three-step plan as governors gradually begin to ease lockdown measures.
recently fueled protests by calling for the “liberation” of the Democrat-run states in a series of incendiary tweets.
After encouraging the protests on Twitter, Trump called the protesters "responsible people" last Friday.
Health officials have urged people to stay home, as .
Despite these warnings, several governors across the U.S. have in coming weeks.
"When they inevitably contract Covid-19 and transmit it to their loved ones, Lauren will be one of the first faces they will see when they are admitted to the ICU. She may also be one of the last faces that they ever see," Saeed said in his post.
He also invited protesters to work alongside nurses and doctors, as he described workers having to wear masks that cut off circulation to their faces, and take extra precautions with PPE and self-quarantining to protect themselves and others.
He then gave vivid descriptions of some of the heartbreaking moments healthcare workers have witnessed as they desperately try to save patients' lives.
"You will stand at the head of the bed with us while we intubate a Covid-19 patient, inches away from their mouth, always cognizant of the damage that can be done with just one cough. You will stand next to us when we tell a husband over the phone that his wife has passed away, surrounded by strangers in space suits," he wrote.
Saeed described how families are unable to say goodbye to their loved ones, out of fear of them contracting the virus.
"Perhaps then you will understand," he added.
The tribute to Leander has been shared more than 8,300 times, and received a wave of support.
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"We love our health care workers, and we love all who are suffering economically. COVID-19 is horrible. United we stand, divided we fall," Leander's mother, Sandy Keaton Leander wrote.
"Thank you Lauren and all the others on the front line who are there for us," one user wrote.
Another added: "Stand strong health workers. We are grateful and proud of you."
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