Oprah Talked to Three NYC Nurses at the Epicenter of the Coronavirus Pandemic

For a recent episode of Lady O's new Apple TV+ series, Oprah Talks COVID-19, the mogul sat-down for a video chat with three New York City nurses fighting the coronavirus on the frontlines. Her previous guests on the show include Idris Elba, DJ D-Nice, and Rev. Wintley Phipps.

At 149,316 cases and counting, New York state currently has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases—compared to any other country in the world. To date, there have been 6,298 deaths, which according to the New York Times is "more than double the number who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at the World Trade Center." On April 7th, New York City set another record, with more than 800 reported deaths in a day.

"It's getting scary here," said float nurse Emily Fawcett, who spoke to Oprah from the Lenox Hill Hospital where she works. "I can start to feel it."

Xenia Greene, pediatric ICU nurse at the Bronx's Montefiore Medical Center, echoed that sentiment.

"Everyday walking into work it is incredibly scary," she said. "We are hearing rapid response, or pediatric medical emergency overhead pages, five to six times an hour, which [is] an indication that someone is doing poorly and in need of a higher level of care."

The nurses explained that while they're able to keep their emotions in check while working with patients, downtime often gives way to anxiety and panic attacks.

"For me, I think what has been particularly challenging is not just what's going on inside the hospital, but outside the hospital," Idara Inokon, a cardiovascular intensive care unit nurse at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. "I have several friends and loved ones who have been confirmed COVID positive. I can't escape it. Everywhere I go, there's some type of aftermath of COVID-19." This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

The trio also opened up about the lack of medical supplies—including masks, gloves, and face shields for personnel—as states across the country struggle to work with the federal government to provide enough protective gear for their health care workers.

Greene explained that before area hospitals felt the full impact of the virus, nurses and doctors were able to treat patients with infections and viruses without reusing basic supplies.

"Every time you enter the room you would put on a new set of masks and gown," she said. "We're not doing that now... Nurses are all over are telling me that they're using them for multiple days, they're using them for the entire shift. That is not sanitary and that will not protect nurses or anybody else in the community."

Celebrities like the O of O herself—plus Ralph Lauren, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos—have donated millions to coronavirus efforts to combat this issue. And there are plenty of organizations accepting donations to go towards global relief.

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