U.S. health workers face threats and unemployment when fighting virus

At least 24 public health officials have either resigned, retired or been fired from their positions due to conditions related to having to enforce and stand up for strong public health tactics during the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) said Monday.

Staffs of health department in the U.S. have been subject to personal insults and even death threats while fighting against the virus, partly because of mask requirements and business restrictions.

Also, threats toward public officials are happening "across the country, in red states and blue states, large metropolitan areas and rural communities," Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said.

Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the Los Angeles County Public Health director, condemned the "level of hatred" health workers have faced. /AFP

As a result, many have had to get personal security.

"Someone posted on social media that we had violated their civil liberties and named me by name," Lauri Jones, the director of a small public health department in Washington state, recalled. "They said, 'Let's post her address... Let's start shooting.' ”

Since then, she has been receiving phone calls from across the country.

"We've been doing the same thing in public health on a daily basis forever. But we are now the villains," said Jones, 64, who called the police and later set up surveillance cameras at her home.

Besides for pressure from politicians who support faster reopening, public health workers also are confronting protests at their homes and offices.

Emily Brown, director of the Rio Grande County Public Health Department in rural Colorado, was fired when she encountered community resistance to the stricter rules she encouraged. /AP

Although the lockdown measures are popular, a minority are still vociferously opposed to the restrictions.

Some people even attacked the officials' race, gender appearance and even sexual orientation, Lori Tremmel Freeman, said to Washington Post.

Emily Brown, director of the Rio Grande County Public Health Department in rural Colorado, was fired when she encountered community resistance to the stricter rules she encouraged.

"Before I had gotten personal threats, the director of our state public health directors association said that about 80 percent of the directors had received personal threats. Some comments were about we the facts that we were women or we should be listened to just based on what we looked like," Emily told National Public Radio (NPR) in the U.S.

(With input from agencies)