Dear Queenie,
I am amazed at how one treats one another amidst this corona virus frenzy.
I wanted to find out my lab test results. I did not have any flu-like symptoms, so I decided to pass by the doctor's office myself, for I did not get through via the phone. I had read the procedures and requirements posted on the entrance door of the doctor’s office a week ago, so I did not expect to have any difficulties.
As I entered the office, the front-desk clerk was on the phone and motioned to me to go back outside. I was puzzled, and I was offended in the manner in which she motioned to me as an animal to step outside as if I had leprosy.
As I stood outside the entrance door waiting for her to finish her telephone conversation, only then did I notice a new whiteboard sign placed on the floor leaning against the office wall near the entrance door, informing that one is not to enter until he/she is received by the front-desk clerk at the door to be attended, due to the COVID-19.
I was upset for the fact that I was expected to see that sign placed on the floor where it is not visible for everyone to see at first glance, for all the other signs are on the door and there is space for more signs to be placed.
If that sign was to remain there on the floor, another notice should have been placed on the door to summon everyone to read the sign on the floor.
I know that with new developments of the COVID-19, procedures change. I acknowledge that doctors, nurses and other health care staff are all scared and taking precautions because they are in first contact with sick people. I have no objections to that, for I care for the wellbeing of myself and others. The rest of us are also cautious and scared. For all I know, the doctor or clerk could also be sick and infect others with the COVID-19 whenever patients who do not have the virus visit the office.
One has to remember to be courteous, civil and keep communication lines open in order to protect ourselves and others as best as we could, for all of us are in this together. Because I know for a fact, the clerk would not have wanted to be treated in the same manner as she did to me.
Those who are not sick are being ill-treated like animals.
Queenie, it makes me wonder how the sickly infected persons would be treated.—Concerned Patient
Dear Concerned Patient,
All health-care workers are being monitored carefully so that they do not pass on COVID-19 to their patients.
I think that clerk is treating everyone the same – as though they are sickly, or at least infected – just to be on the safe side. I know it is not pleasant for anyone, but doctors and their employees are at more risk than the rest of us and we have to respect them for that.
Perhaps whoever placed that whiteboard sign thought it would be more noticeable where it was. I hope that when you finally got inside you told them it was not.
