A heartbreaking video out of Saudi Arabia has put a spotlight on the tragic effects social distancing is having on families, particularly the families of health care workers.
In the video, the unidentified man returns home from a long day working at the hospital.
Still dressed in his scrubs, he’s barely walked through the door before his toddler son comes barreling towards him, arms wide open and ready for what we can assume is a daily “welcome home” hug.
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But health care workers are having to take extra precautions to avoid spreading the disease, especially when they get home.
In an interview with USA Today , California physician and mom-of-four Jessica Kiss said she immediately jumps in the shower and washes her scrubs as soon as she comes home.
“We are physically bringing home bacteria and viruses,” Hala Sabry, another California-based physician, told the publication.
In the viral video of the Saudi doctor, he has to throw up his hands to keep his son at a safe distance from him.
He even takes a step back to make sure the toddler can’t touch him, a move which appears to confuse the little boy who slows his approach and then stops completely, his arms falling back down to his sides.
The man is visibly upset by his own rejection, and kneels in front of his son as he begins to cry.
The video, which was uploaded by Twitter user @Doranimated , is only six seconds long.
But that’s all it takes to make an incredible impact on the internet.
And to remind us all that there are real people making real sacrifices in order to keep everyone as safe as possible right now.
In just a few short days, the video has gone viral, racking up nearly 300,000 likes and over 100,000 retweets.
The comment section is understandably filled with heartbroken users who felt the doctor’s pain through their own screens.
For many, it was hard to watch.
“The fear and emotional exhaustion just pour off this man,” one user wrote, while another added, “This is the face of sacrifice. We owe our medical professionals more than we can ever give.”
Some people related to the doctor’s anguish and shared similar experiences in the comments.
“I totally get it,” this user wrote, “My wife goes through this every single day. It’s heartbreaking but that is the life we live. Our daughter is immune compromised to make things worse.”
Although heartbreaking to watch, I think we can all agree the father in this video likely has a newfound appreciation for those special after-work hugs.
And I personally hope he follows the advice of this Twitter user who wrote, “He should strip out of those clothes, take a long shower, then love on his son the rest of the night.”
