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SINGAPORE: During the first week of Siti Zawiyah in the United States, when the COVID-19-fueled panic purchase began, a colleague bought her grocery bags and bags, so many that she had to make a few trips to bring them all from her car. colleague.
Its contents included toilet paper, a huge bottle of water, milk, rice, frozen vegetables, halal meat, and spices. “I can’t give you chicken without (any spice) to cook with, can I?” said his colleague, Maria Gregg.
Siti barely knew Maria, who had to care for her own family, even when stores were empty of supplies for eager shoppers. However, the American insisted on helping the Singaporean, her husband and their 16-month-old son to overcome the developing situation of COVID-19.
“Maria told me that she could not imagine being away from her country with her son and family without receiving help,” Siti said.
Maria even went out of her way to get this halal meat to Siti and his family. (Source: Siti Zawiyah)
That was in early March, when Siti began his relationship with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey. The 40-year-old registered nurse from Singapore General Hospital (SGH) was there as part of the Health Human Resources Development Plan.
He was supposed to spend six weeks with the nursing computer team at the New Jersey Hospital, but he was in the hospital for only five days.
On Tuesday of the second week, as infection rates increased across the country, the university hospital ordered Siti, who considered himself non-essential personnel, to stay home until further notice.
In week three, the Ministry of Health called Siti to Singapore, but not before experiencing how a terrible situation brought out the best in people he barely knew.
Maria and Siti worked at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. (Source: Siti Zawiyah)
FIRST INKS OF A STORM
When Siti’s family landed in New Jersey on March 7, there were only a handful of confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in the state, and anxiety over COVID-19 had not yet increased.
“The day we got there, it was bright and sunny. People were away from home, “he said.” It was like any normal day. “
Siti’s family was greeted with a generous bag of groceries placed outside their apartment by their new neighbor Angela.
Three days later, Siti showed up for work and an orientation visit to the hospital campus as scheduled.
Starting his relationship with the nursing computer team at the university hospital. (Source: Siti Zawiyah)
But there were already signs that the situation was falling apart: a cafe that the Siti family sponsored no longer allowed customers to enter the store to order. The establishments stopped serving drinks to customers in their personal cups. Playgrounds were cordoned off.
On March 13, when a national emergency was declared in the United States, the panic purchase began. It was then that Siti’s colleague, Maria, appeared as a reassuring guardian angel with purchases.
As the days passed, the family’s concerns increased due to the rapidly deteriorating situation. A curfew was announced; schools, shopping malls, and eventually, all non-essential businesses were closed.
Empty store shelves in New Jersey after a panic purchase. (Source: Siti Zawiyah)
By March 21, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Jersey had skyrocketed more than 1,000, and four days after that, it had more than tripled. New Jersey now had the second-largest outbreak in the United States behind New York, with Governor Phil Murphy warning of a critical deficit in hospital beds.
Meanwhile, Siti’s colleagues confined to her home remotely involved her in their meetings, ensuring that she continued to learn.
But then came the news from Singapore. “The Siti chief told us that we should go home,” said her husband, Muhammad Fadzullah Hassan. “An official email was also sent. So we reserved our ticket for March 26. “
The streets were emptied in New Jersey when people were told to stay home and all non-essential businesses were closed. (Source: Siti Zawiyah)
Finally, it seemed that the family was going home. But days before his trip, news came from Singapore Airlines: The fight was canceled.
A desperate Siti sought help from the airline and the Foreign Office, as well as from a friend in the industry. “It seemed like the flights were full, but there was business class.
I said, whatever it takes to take me home.
Somehow, the friend managed to get premium budget tickets, on a morning flight on March 25.
Siti did not risk it. I wanted to get to the airport early in case there were additional health checks. “I asked Maria for help to take us there. She said “no problem”.
“She sent us to the airport at 5.45 a.m. for our 10.45 a.m. flight, with an impossible amount of luggage to fit in her car. We are very, very grateful for her.”
On the flight back to Singapore. (Source: Siti Zawiyah)
Back home, more kindness
Upon landing at the Changi airport, Siti’s family and their travel companions were greeted by immigration officials, and led small groups aboard buses that took them directly to the Village Hotel Sentosa.
It was where the family would have to comply with their Notice of Home Stay (SHN) for the next 14 days.
“After an 18-hour flight, it was nice to see local faces smiling at us,” Siti said. “The reception staff were exceptional, they even offered a stuffed toy at check-in, when they noticed that I had my son Harith with me.”
The room where they spent 14 days at Village Hotel Sentosa. (Source: Siti Zawiyah)
During her stay, between finding ways to keep Harith busy, Siti was bombarded with messages from friends and family offering to deliver food and supplies.
“They asked if we needed anything for Harith: was there enough milk? Diapers? We were locked in this confined space, but people were always in contact with me, “he added.
“The first days, there were so many deliveries. They sent Harith milk and sandwiches, they even surprised a bit like mee goreng, hot coffee and cakes. ”
Supplies for your child, sent by friends. (Source: Siti Zawiyah)
To avoid any physical contact, the staff left deliveries and meals on stools outside each room and rang the bell to alert guests.
“Sometimes we caught them in time to greet them. They were always very warm and told us to hang in there.
These people are also our leaders, if you think about it.
To thank the staff, they made a card: “We had Harith do some color” and taped it to her door. In return, they received a handwritten note of encouragement from one of the staff members.
Your thank you note to the staff. (Source: Siti Zawiyah)
BE WHERE YOU NEED
With their SHN completed on Thursday (April 9), the family was finally able to go home, where they stayed for the past few days according to Singapore’s “circuit breaker” directives.
For them, improved safe distancing measures are not a new experience, after what they experienced in New Jersey.
And tomorrow (April 14), Siti will return to her nursing IT job at SGH, while her husband works from home with his son.
Its role is to work with medical data and IT systems to support clinical nurses, but if the need arises, Siti is well prepared to serve on the front line. “Of course we are concerned because we have family at home, but that is the nature of work.
“As a nurse, (no matter where you are), you must be ready to be deployed in the areas where you need it most. We need to be out there helping,” she said.
