> The days and nights of eight hospital workers,

Across B.C., people are working in health care amid a global pandemic. Many cheer them from their balconies and porches each night at 7 p.m. Often in his daily briefings, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix takes a moment to thank them, not just the physicians and nurses, but all the allied health-care workers — those who work in seniors care homes, care aids and janitors.

Here, you’ll meet a handful of those workers at Royal Jubilee Hospital and hear about their first brushes with the virus. Some common themes emerge from their stories. In the early days, they would worry about bringing COVID-19 home to their families. Some self-isolated; some couldn’t bear that. Many have found the transition to wearing protective equipment all day difficult and feel the pain of patients who can’t have visitors. Mostly, says the head of the emergency and critical-care departments for Island Health, these workers have carried on “humbly” and “bravely” and put their patients before their fears.

Royal Jubilee is one of two COVID-19 designated hospitals on Vancouver

Island (the other is in Nanaimo). It has three critical-care units: the intensive care unit, with 11 beds for patients typically needing multiple organ support, and two others, with eight beds each, for coronary care.

There are two negative-pressure rooms in the ICU for procedures that cause the COVID-19 virus to become airborne — intubations, for instance. In this room, air can circulate, but doesn’t leave the room. On the side is an anteroom where health-care workers “don” and “doff” their personal protective equipment in an ordered fashion. An ICU nurse called the “sheriff” watches to ensure it’s done correctly and to stop anyone who might run into the room.

All of those interviewed, given a chance to say what’s on their minds, thanked Islanders for the team effort, acknowledging that new cases of COVID-19 cases are falling and the health-care system remains robust because of everyone’s sacrifices. If they have a common request, it’s that as restrictions ease in the coming weeks and months, Islanders hold the line.