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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPharmacy Workers Are Coming Down With COVID-19 -- But They Can't Afford to Stop Working
At his home in the Bronx, where he lies in bed with a fever, Jose Peralta keeps replaying the scene in his head. It was Monday, March 16th, the start of an unusually hectic week at a Walgreens in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. Peralta, a senior pharmacy technician, was on his way to take a break when he noticed a familiar customer waiting in line to pick up medication.
I thought, Gee it would be nice to help this guy, Peralta said. Weve all been trying to minimize exposure and make sure that people dont have to spend too long in the store.
Returning to the counter, Peralta chatted briefly with the customer only a few feet away. Even though he was working at the center of the nations coronavirus outbreak, Walgreens hadnt given him gloves or a mask, he said.
A few days later, during routine calls to customers about medication ready for pickup, Peralta learned that the customer whom he had helped had tested positive for COVID-19. Peralta notified his manager that he may have been exposed to the virus. The manager checked with headquarters and told him to keep working, Peralta said.
Toward the end of March, Peralta and two colleagues started to come down with telltale symptoms: A loss of smell and taste. Fatigue. Body aches. He realized that he might be laid up for weeks far longer than his sick pay would last.
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/pharmacy-workers-covid-19-cvs-walgreens-981204/
SWBTATTReg
(22,183 posts)upsetting to me, especially the part about letting these people off the damn hook about their jobs when they are sick and they should be getting sick pay during their recovery, and protecting their customers at the same time.
This is upsetting to me. I will complain to them/Walgreens.
I_UndergroundPanther
(12,480 posts)Has always had hand sanitizer there,and within a couple of weeks installed barriers. Between the pharmacists and the customers.
I hope a couple of my favorite pharmacy techs are ok.
SWBTATTReg
(22,183 posts)when I pull into the drive through to pick up a prescription, without me saying one word, the pharmacy tech will call me by name, and ask me what I need? How in the world did they know me and my name?
'Hey Mr. XXX, what can we help you with?'.
Now that gets me every time, prior to me saying a word! It is just amazing!
Maybe I look funny, odd, or something that they remember about me, but Wow, it's amazing the memory they have. It's happened several times, so its not a totally random thing. I don't know how they do it (the remembering of names, prior to me saying one word).
And I never, ever, had a problem w/ them, or Walgreens.
I wish them all well, and that they are all safe and healthy (and I'm sure all of the other customers wish the same thing (the Walgreen workers)).
You be safe and careful too.