At a government hospital, before the morning shift, a short moment of silence is observed for Dr Ali Noor Hassan, a frontliner that recently passed away due to brain aneurysm, and after that, it's back to work.

Dr Jean (not her real name) is one of the doctors who've been on the frontline of the COVID-19 battle since day one.

Speaking to Rojak Daily, Dr Jean said that the hospital's condition was just getting from bad to worse.

"We're basically like walking zombies now. It's a nightmare here but there's nothing much we can do. It is a call and we have no choice but to suck it up and push on," she said.

The past few weeks, news of medical frontliners suffering from fatigue and being overworked have made the headlines.

Dr Jean is one of them.

"We have to go to the site, investigate the area, the people and report back to analyse if it is linked to current clusters or not.

"We also have to take samplings, deal with post-exposure, post quarantine discharges, scheduled swab tests and attend to the neverending walk-ins that require to get swabbed as well," she said.

While doing all this, doctors and other frontliners are often stuck in their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits for up to five to six hours.

"Basically we push on until we can't take it. When we finally surrender, another person takes over," she said.

Crowds to clear

At the discharge areas, it's another nightmare.

"For example, this one Klinik Kesihatan where I am stationed at from time to time has about four to five medical officers.

"This small group has to reassess 600 to 700 patients a day to see if they are fit to be discharged or not.

"It's a crazy number but we have to do it. We just have to put on our suits and complete checks for the whole crowd," she revealed.

As for referring patients to a different clinic, that's not an option.

Dr Jean said that other clinics had their own usual appointments and walk-ins to deal with.

"Then it comes to work at the district office. Data sorting, reports, referrals. It's work, work and more work and this is just in 24 hours.

"When the new day starts, the cycle begins again," she said adding that it was mentally and physically draining but frontliners don't have a choice.

Rest? Eat? We do it when we can

What about eating? Breaks in between? Do you have time for that?" asked this writer.

A long laugh ensues.

"We eat when we can. There is no time set aside for that. There is no time for anything actually. I'm tired. I'm super duper tired. I hardly talk to family or friends. I have many pending unread messages on my phone from loved ones who are just checking up on me but I have no time to even read them.

"Thank God, I'm still living with my mum. When I go home, I don't feel like talking, and she understands and lets me be. I'm thankful for that," she said.

"We don't have enough beds. We don't have enough equipment and it frustrates me that people are still taking things so lightly.

"When you allow them to quarantine at home, they're out and about," she said angrily.

Lying patients aplenty

Patient lying about who they've met, where they have gone and their symptoms is also an enormous problem.

"I actually got COVID a few months ago because of a patient that lied to me. He came in with diarrhea problems but didn't tell me that he had symptoms. When I ran his name in the positive case database, his name was there. That's how I found out and by then it was too late."

"I had pneumonia and was admitted but God healed me," she said.

Annoyed and frustrated, Dr Jean said that the only thing that could improve the situation is for people to be more responsible and transparent.

"Don't lie. Don't take COVID lightly and go about your life like there's no pandemic happening. As for the Government, I wish they would just tighten the regulations for MCO 2.0.

"Stop pleasing people and just buck up. Your frontliners are wearing out. We're dying!" she said, before excusing herself to attend to patients.

On Wednesday (20 January) alone, Malaysia recorded 4,008 COVID-19 cases, with 11 deaths.

In total, our country has recorded 169,379 cases and 630 deaths so far.

Our health director-general has also warned that cases could rise to 8,000 a day if we do not control the spread now.

As we go about our day and delight at the fact that there are not many roadblocks, less strict regulations and get angry at restaurants told to close at 8pm, our frontliners continue working like walking zombies, doing what they can to keep us safe.

And for that, we are eternally grateful.