A healthy dose of can-do spirit to fight the disease

On March 4, I began showing symptoms of a sore throat－it felt like it had been cut by a knife. I tested negative the next day before work, but the pain came back that evening. The following day, a test also showed that I was not infected.

However, on March 7, the virus finally revealed its true colors－a faint line and a clear red line, which meant "weak positive".

In the days that followed, I stayed at a quarantine hotel so I didn't infect my family or colleagues.

Even before I was confirmed as infected, I had observed social distancing around my family because of the high risk associated with my job. At home, my food was served separately and everyone wore masks.

Even while I was undergoing quarantine, I checked with my colleagues to see whether they needed my help, as I am responsible for liaising with the residents' family members.

I was cleared of the virus a week later and returned to work straight away.

I start my days by handing out medication to about 60 senior residents, helping to rub medical cream into the skin of some of them and cleaning any wounds that exist.

Three nurses and two health workers help with the work. The division of work has become blurred during the epidemic, which is a strain on our team.

When the first staff member was confirmed infected, we were shorthanded. At the height of the outbreak, we were 10 percent down on our usual team. One caregiver had to take care of 12 residents.

The nurses sometimes helped out with work that was usually undertaken by caregivers, such as changing diapers and helping residents take showers.

Now, though, we usually pair up to take care of the residents, so things are more efficient.

With the weather getting warmer, even cleaning residents' wounds makes me sweat from head to toe as I am dressed in full protective gear.

To save the hassle of changing my protective gown, and taking off my face shield and masks, I try to do things such as drink water or go to the bathroom all in one go during my lunch hour.

Normally, I can only do so about five hours into my daily nine-hour shift.

Social distancing rules are in place in the care home. We have canceled mass activities, and residents have been advised to stay in their own rooms.

The difficult part is keeping an eye on the (sometimes unmasked) seniors, who like to visit the lobby to watch television, one of their favorite activities.

It's even harder with some of the residents who have Alzheimer's disease. They tend to forget our repeated reminders to put on their masks and stay in their rooms.

The epidemic has left many people in low spirits, me included. We can get through this by sticking together. If we stay positive, we will beat it in no time.

Luk Tsz-ying spoke with Shadow Li.