"Afraid Grandmother Might Feel Lonely" Medical Staff Wearing Protective Suits Playing Hwatu, Netizens Moved

On the 1st, an image of a medical worker in protective clothing sitting and playing Hwatu cards with an elderly woman was released, attracting attention. Photo by Twitter

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] A photo showing an elderly woman in patient clothing and a healthcare worker in protective gear sitting around and playing Hwatu at what appears to be a nursing hospital has been shared on social media, touching many netizens.

On the 1st, a post on Twitter with the photo read, "Healthcare workers playing Hwatu with an elderly woman in isolation at a nursing hospital, a small effort and consideration for the lonely grandmother." This photo has been retweeted over 10,000 times and spread across various social media platforms.

The photo captures a healthcare worker in hot protective clothing looking at the elderly woman on the bed, and the grandmother holding Hwatu cards, seemingly contemplating her next move.

One netizen praised the healthcare workers, saying, "This is definitely not a small effort. Wearing protective gear and playing Hwatu together so the grandmother doesn’t feel lonely is truly remarkable."

Another netizen, who revealed they had provided medical support last year, said, "While wearing protective gear, carbon dioxide is not properly expelled, causing severe dehydration," adding, "They wear multiple layers of protective suits and cannot freely use the restroom, so this cannot be called just a 'small effort and consideration.'"

On the 2nd, Sim Sang-jung, a Justice Party lawmaker, shared the photo and said, "I feel a sense of awe." Photo by Sim's Twitter capture.

Sim Sang-jung, a member of the Justice Party, shared the post on the 2nd, saying, "I feel awe at the healthcare worker sitting upright in protective gear, quietly gazing at the elderly woman," and added, "Love in the COVID-19 era seems to be 'care and solidarity,'" expressing sympathy for the healthcare workers' hard work.

Meanwhile, as the COVID-19 infection situation has worsened mainly in the metropolitan area recently, the metropolitan area has been implementing Level 4 social distancing for three consecutive weeks. Under Level 4 social distancing, contact visits to nursing hospitals and facilities are prohibited unless both the resident and visitor are fully vaccinated, and even non-contact visits are banned.