Superman. Black Widow. Batman. Wonder Woman. 

To the world, they are superheroes. They race in to save the day, masks concealing their identities, capes streaming behind them. They are always ready to right any wrongs, to strike down a villain and see justice served. Unfortunately, right now the world’s greatest enemy isn’t one that can be defeated by a few punches. COVID-19 is the big bad of 2020, and a new wave of heroes have bravely risen up to the occasion. Today’s heroes still wear masks, just N-95s. 

Right now, our healthcare workers are the real heroes. Fighting a pandemic seems like an impossible feat, but they have bravely taken on this responsibility despite the glaring risks to their own health. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 2,000 health care personnel have tested positive for the coronavirus. The lack of supplies and protective gear, such as N-95 masks and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) make their jobs even more dangerous, yet they continue to help save lives across the world.

We even have heroes in our own Morris Hills community, our friendly neighborhood Spidermen and women who work each day to protect the people. Even though they wear masks, they still deserve to be recognized for their efforts. 

Nicole Narciso, a Morris Hills sophomore, says that her sister is a nurse. She is grateful that her sister is willing to help others during this time but she said that is “nerve-wracking” whenever her sister goes to work because of the absence of proper equipment. Nicole wants everyone to be aware of the lack of resources for medical workers. N-95 masks, which are commonly used by doctors and nurses, are meant to be single-use masks, but due to the lack of supply, medical personnel have to reuse masks and equipment, making them even more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. 

Another sophomore at Morris Hills, who wishes to stay anonymous, says that her father is a nurse at the Morristown Medical Center. She described her father as “mentally strong and selfless” when asked about how she feels about him risking health to help others. She admires all of the people who are still working during this time and putting their own lives in danger to do so. Even though his job is risky, she says that she wouldn’t wish that her father chose another career path, saying that his job “changed him for the better and taught him things such as perseverance, patience, and a hunger for knowledge.” 

Although the coronavirus seems like a deadly foe, we are all lucky to have doctors and nurses who are dedicated and determined to save lives. If you know a friend or family member who is a healthcare worker or essential worker, please take the time to thank them for their commitment to their job.