COVID-19 Laboratory Professionals Talk about Mental Burnout and Fatigue

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Fatigue has struck doctors and nurses working amidst the COVID-19 pandemic that has lasted for 9-months so far in Indonesia, the same is experienced by laboratory professionals examining Covid-19 samples, especially amid the current rise in confirmed cases. 

“All of us that have worked since March have been starting to feel fatigued,” said Savira Ekawardhani, University of Padjadjaran’s Biosafety Level-2 laboratory researcher on Friday, December 4. 

The laboratory located in Bandung has helped check COVID-19 samples from hospital patients isolated due to the virus since March 15, 2020.

The lab has 30 employees working full time and part time with a daily sample testing average of 200-300. Laboratory personnel that have worked everyday since March barely had time to rest on weekends in the middle of 2020. They now are forced to work harder as they did before due to the current rise in cases. 

“We are more angered by the people who do not abide by health protocols which adds to unnecessary work,” said the researcher who is also a lecturer of the university’s parasitology division.

Savira fears the Unpad lab workers would soon be mentally burned out due to constantly working under high risk. “The initial prediction was low numbers by the end of the year, but it turns out that the numbers grew again,” said Savira. 

Many of these sample-testing lab officials must work 2 - 3.5 hours wearing full-on personal protection equipment (PPE) bathing in their own sweat without being able to eat, drink, or go to the toilet as long as they are in their hazmat suits, which is essential to prevent contracting COVID-19.

Also Read: IDI Confirms 342 Medical Workers Succumbed to COVID-19

ANWAR SISWADI (CONTRIBUTOR)