Hospitals and healthcare workers are facing an unprecedented crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Medical facilities in almost every state are running out of beds, ventilators and intensive care units due to the increase of coronavirus cases along with the daily traffic most hospitals see, The New York Times reported.
Governors across the country are putting plans in place to use hotels, college dorms and stadiums as overflow stations for hospitals, but in the meantime nurses and doctors are trying to deal with a deluge of cases that are overwhelming healthcare facilities.
Nurses have been speaking out on social media about the dire situation hospitals are dealing with, and many have complained about long hours, isolation from family members and a lack of necessary supplies, according to NBC News.
One nurse spoke out over the weekend, sharing her frustrations with patients who have mild symptoms of sickness and show up to the hospital as staff members battle the coronavirus.
The video went viral and has racked up more than five million views on Instagram. During the video, the nurse told people with minor aches and pains to stay home.
"Pray for your hospital staff right now. We signed up for this, we're going to take care of you all, but we'd appreciate it if y'all would keep your asses home," she said.
"People coming to the hospital for a stomach ache, I'm gonna need you to take a Pepto Bismol and sit down. Or, 'Oh I think I'm pregnant cause I missed four periods.' You are, sis, you are. You don't have to come and see us for that. You are more at risk coming into the hospital than you are at home," she added.
There were thousands of comments under her video thanking her for her efforts to help people and for letting the public know that this is an extremely trying time for all hospitals.
State lawmakers and the federal government have repeatedly told people that even if they believe they have coronavirus, they should stay home unless they have unmanageable symptoms or are in danger of dying.
"If your child has a runny nose and a little cough, I promise you he is going to live. That is not the time to come to the hospital. You come to the hospital if your symptoms become unmanageable. That means you have tried it all and it isn't working so you feel like you need to go to the hospital. You can call your primary. They also have hotlines where you can call the hospital and talk to nurses about your symptoms. But if one more of y'all come in for a headache, POW," the nurse added jokingly.
Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said social distancing this week will be crucial as more people become infected and a higher percentage seek medical treatment.
"This week, it's going to get bad. Right now, there are not enough people out there who are taking this seriously,” Adams told the TODAY show on Monday.
Like other medical professionals, he asked that people who believe they already have the virus stay home, only going to medical facilities if they are in serious need of care.
