The world has been flipped upside down over the last few months from the COVID-19 pandemic. While a large majority of the general population has been able to self-isolate away from the virus, some people haven't been able to do that. Essential employees across the country from health care to grocery store workers to everything in between have been working despite the dangerous conditions around the country.

I sat down (virtually) with three essential workers to get a taste of what it's like to be working in the midst of COVID-19. Let's meet the panel:

What has it been like being a front line worker during this pandemic?

Kali: It has definitely been a different atmosphere while at work during this pandemic. Overall, we have had a lot less patients coming into the center so it's been slower than normal. On a busy seven hour shift, we'd see about 50 patients, but on a good day, we see about 20 patients. While we've had a variety of complaints, we've definitely seen a large amount of patients with cough, chest tightness, and body aches that we've had to send to either the hospital or to testing sites. Another large group of people we've seen and treated are people who have come in that their anxiety has greatly increased from their norm and they aren't able to see any other doctor since a lot of doctors are either closed or online. Since there is a decrease of patients, my coworkers' hours have been getting cut. When thinking about healthcare, I thought we would all be safe and have our jobs, but since our numbers are lower, it's unknown whose hours would be cut next.

Emily: It's been a blessing to be able to still work, even if it was reduced hours for awhile. It has kept me busy, but I'm also high risk, so there's always some worry. I've loved being able to take care of other essential workers' dogs during this time the most though!

Xzana: In one word: hectic. Things are constantly changing, and it can be a little hard to keep up with, especially being in healthcare.

What has been the biggest challenge during this time for you?

Kali: There have been a lot of challenges that are different from anything I've encountered before. Every day our policies would change and we'd have to catch up with what the CDC was recommending, what our company as a whole was doing, and then what my center was doing to help fight the pandemic. Since PPE (personal protective gear) has been hard to order, we only get one surgical mask until it is no longer usable and then we can get a new one. We are cleaning so much to create a sterile environment, but we are given a limited amount of wipes to use so we run out a lot quicker than normal and have to be creative on keeping the center clean. Another large challenge has been treating all the patients as if they could have the virus. Since there is such a variety of symptoms, or people could be asymptomatic, we have to take precautions on everyone and not just people that may have a cough. Since I am encountering patients that are positive for the virus, I feel like I'm more hypersensitive to my own symptoms if I get a tickle in my throat or feel extra tired that I get more worried than I typically would than with other viruses.

Emily: The biggest challenge for me during this has been finding motivation to do household chores because i just say I'll do it tomorrow.

Xzana: The biggest challenge for me has been being safe. It sounds silly, but I am truly afraid of bringing something home to my family. While I'm thankful I have a job while many do not during this time, it is very scary for me.

What do you wish the general public knew about what you're doing to help fight the pandemic?

Kali: Some patients that have come in have stated that they've been trying to avoid doctors' offices as much as they could, but in my opinion, my medical center seems a lot safer than the store. We clean everything in our center: the beds, keyboards, pens, chairs, cabinets, phones, etc. We wear masks while making sure all our patients have masks as well. We take our policies very seriously and create a very clean environment to prevent spread of any diseases, not just coronavirus. All my coworkers take our rules very seriously and have a passion for helping others feel better.

Emily: I wish the general public knew that I do love working during this and being able to take care of healthcare workers and other essential workers' dogs is a blessing. They make my day better when I'm having a rough day!

Xzana: I wish the general public knew that these guidelines being put in place isn't to harm you. It isn't to keep you isolated from the world. It's to keep you safe. This virus is very unpredictable and everyone is at risk for getting it.

What's something positive you have learned during this experience?

Kali: The communication and teamwork that has increased at my center has been a really wonderful positive for us as a whole. Personally, my empathy and compassion have increased. Even if patients are negative for the disease, if they have a cough from seasonal allergies, others are in so much fear of them and they are avoided. These patients just need someone to care for them and not be afraid to be around them. Also, a lot of patients that have come in either have been furloughed from work or live alone and just need human interaction so my patience and compassion has grown towards others.

Emily: I've learned to never take "normalcy" for granted again! But I've also learned that sometimes, everyone needs a break from the same routine day after day after day. It was nice to have a break from that.

Xzana: The most positive thing I've noticed is that SO many communities have come together as a whole to help each other out. Whether it's to provide each other with masks, to get food for families who need it, etc. It's incredible to see how helpful everyone is in a time like this where we all need it the most!

How would you describe this experience as a whole?

Kali: This experience has felt surreal. It's more than just being careful and clean at work, but having to wash my car after working and then changing clothes before coming into my house to prevent my family from getting anything. It also has been humbling because there are other countries that are dealing with this that don't have the same healthcare system or precautions that the U.S. does. It is a scary time because the future of this virus is unknown. There are so many questions that don't have answers. When regulations are lifted, fear of another surge is possible which we have to prepare for. Even though there are so many different opinions on how to try to overcome this pandemic, it truly has brought people together which I appreciate.

Emily: I would say the whole experience of Covid-19 has been a mixture of emotions. It was a great mental break from the same day to day routine. On the other hand, I want some normalcy back and my day to day back. Covid was a blessing and a curse but i think everyone should try to take something positive away from it!

Xzana: Unpredictable. Guidelines change (what feels like) every day. Some days, it's hard to know my left from my right! But it has truly been a learning experience overall. Being in healthcare, I learn new things every day about this pandemic and how we can better serve our community. We're all learning! Oh, and please wash your hands.