“It makes you want to quit. You’re like — ‘You know what? I’m going to put in my two weeks’ notice. I can’t keep doing this,'” complained one New Jersey ICU nurse who’s recovering from COVID-19. Another says, “I feel like we’re living in a parallel universe. I don’t think the public understands what’s going on inside of the hospitals.” What’s going on? As COVID-19 cases skyrocket, infections among health care staff are soaring. New Jersey hospitals have contingency plans that predict 30% of health care staff could fall sick from COVID-19, according to the state health commissioner. The plans envision special medical teams caring for double the patient load, perhaps 15 patients per shift, instead of eight.
NJ hospitals brace for new surge, with 30% staff out due to COVID-19
New daily COVID-19 cases among NJ hospital staff hit 823 on Dec. 30 — that’s almost double from the week before
Senior Correspondent
Senior Correspondent Brenda Flanagan joined NJ Spotlight News in 2013, and focuses on COVID-19, transportation, environmental and immigration issues. The Emmy-award-winning reporter has also worked as an investigative/political correspondent for news departments at WWOR,WNYW and NJN.