‘It has been incredibly stressful’: Midland nurse works to keep COVID-19 from spreading

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, staff at Georgian Bay General Hospital have courageously put themselves in harm’s way while working to fight the spread of COVID-19. 

One of those front-line workers is Zoe Robitaille, a registered practical nurse who works in GBGH’s COVID-19 unit.

“To be honest, it has been incredible stressful; frightening at times,” said Robitaille. “I know myself and my team, we are just terrified of this getting out or bringing it home.”

Our #COVIDHEROES series shines the spotlight on 21 people in Simcoe County who helped us endure this pandemic.

Read about all of our heroes here –

Robitaille works in 2 East, the unit at GBGH that’s been treating all potential and confirmed COVID-19 cases in Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny and Tay.

In mid-March, the hospital split 2 East in half and created a hot zone and a cold zone. 

“The hot side is where we put all of the patients who are pending a COVID-19 test or have tested positive for the virus,” said Robitaille. “When you are working on the hot side, you are isolated.”

Only a handful of nurses are assigned to the hot side each shift. They are all covered head-to-toe in personal protective equipment and ready to deal with any potential COVID-19 case that arrives at the Midland hospital.

“It is a new virus. We still don’t know a lot about it. So, things are changing all the time,” said Robitaille. “It has definitely been stressful.”

As case counts rise, precautions tighten and fear goes up.

Staff at GBGH have been extremely flexible in adapting to the ever-changing landscape created by COVID-19, but it’s been difficult.

“You are always worried. We are always nitpicking (our own symptoms),” said Robitaille. “Personally, I am really careful. I make sure I don’t stop anywhere on the way home and I use a different bathroom to shower when I get home.”

The lives of hospital staff have been dramatically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many adjusting their living situations and isolating themselves in order to continue working. The community is grateful, with many referring to front-line workers as heroes

“Personally, I don’t feel like a hero. We are just doing our jobs,” said Robitaille. “Yes, it’s a new virus. Yes’ it’s scary. But we deal with infectious diseases all the time at the hospital.”