Packed New York Parks Are a 'Slap in the Face to Medics Dying on the Frontline', Doctor Says | 22 Words

Despite New York being one of the worst affected cities amid this ongoing medical pandemic, residents have been ignoring the lockdown measures by flocking to parks to enjoy the warm weather.

And now, a doctor has spoken out about this unruly behavior and has outlined just what it is doing to our hardworking medics...

Amid the ongoing pandemic, New York City has been one of the worst affected cities in our country.

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 The Big Apple has been hit notoriously hard by the deadly virus, but this doesn't seem to be fazing its residents.

The strict lockdown restrictions have been falling on deaf ears...

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 As thousands of New Yorkers continue to ignore the rules implemented by the government.

Obviously, this kind of unruly behavior could be incredibly damaging...

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 And could ruin all efforts in combatting the virus.

It is of the utmost importance that New York remains locked down...

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 Or there could be devastating consequences. But first, let's start from the beginning...

New York state alone has accounted for 174,000 cases...

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 And over 13,000 deaths.

According to a New York doctor, the number of patients on ventilators has "more than doubled" in the last couple of months.

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 Dr. Craig Smith, chair of the department of surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, explained, "We have not exhausted our existing supply of ventilators but if we keep doubling every three days, we might."

It's safe to say that the city has been struggling...

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 But in the typical New Yorker fashion, communities have been powering on through these difficult times.

And it's no secret that the cities healthcare workers have being worked to their limits.

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 This is a problem occurring all over the world, but in New York City, healthcare workers have been buckling under the rapidly rising numbers of infected people and, ultimately, dealing with those who are losing their lives. They are putting their lives on the line every single day to save others, which is truly remarkable.

And as a big sign of thanks recently...

The Empire State Building was lit up with red lights to commemorate these heroic people working on the front line.

It created a real sense of unity and strength...

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 And it delivered a powerful message that encouraged the world to stay strong and stick together during these hard times.

But despite these beautiful acts of unity...

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 Things continue to deteriorate.

It is a terrible reality that the deaths are so prevalent in New York City...

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 And the death toll is rising rapidly day by day.

Morgues within the state have been struggling to cope...

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 And under this immense pressure, the city shortened the amount of time it will hold unclaimed remains before they are buried in the city's public cemetery.

In truly apocalyptic scenes, a mass burial site was built.

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 Under the new policy, the medical examiner's office will keep bodies in storage for just fourteen days before they're buried in the city's potter's field on Hart Island.

This means that bodies are being buried in mass graves.

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 Nine News Australia took ariel footage of these graves and it is truly heartbreaking to witness.

Yet, despite these shocking images...

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 New Yorkers are still breaking the lockdown rules put in place.

Over the weekend, thousands of people were filmed sunbathing in parks all over the city.

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 And now, a doctor has spoken out to condemn those breaking the lockdown rules, and to outline just how they're affecting the lives of the heroic medics out on the front line.

And he is not impressed.

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 Cleavon Gilman, a doctor at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Washington Heights, tweeted his disapproval, alongside a video of New Yorkers sunbathing in the park.

He had a harsh message for those breaking the rules.

"16,000 New Yorkers dead in 8 weeks! This is a SLAP in the face to healthcare providers nationwide risking their lives and dying on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. I’m in Central Park right now and it’s business as usual."
His video was quick to go viral, with other 5,000 retweets and 12,000 likes.

All people need to do is wear a mask and stay apart from each other.

Is it really so difficult? For more updates on the ongoing pandemic, keep scrolling to read about Italy's lifted lockdown...