An eye opening text message shared by a US actress from her best friend - a COVID-19 doctor - has gone viral.
American actress June Diane Raphael on Monday tweeted a text message she received from her best friend, a doctor currently working on the front lines for COVID-19 patients.
The personal text message was a stark representation of what it was like working as a doctor in the US, a country with over 11 million cases and 246,000 deaths.
"Tomorrow will be my 10th day working straight. We are completely surging," the doctor wrote.
"We are overflowing our units. We are short staffed. We are physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted.
"People here aren't wearing masks, they are having Sunday family dinners, going to church, planning for Thanksgiving.
"There is such disconnect between the hospital and the surrounding communities. I don't leave the hospital to bells, whistles and clanging pots and pans… I drive home stunned through a college town with lines out the doors for the local bars.
"People complain about their personal freedoms being limited and the mental effects of social distancing and wearing masks… but give no respect to others' right to live…"
US President-elect Joe Biden said on Monday "more people may die" if Donald Trump continues to block efforts to plan for a US transition of power.
Biden expressed his frustration over the Trump administration not cooperating with his transition team on fighting the pandemic.
"More people may die if we don't coordinate," Biden said.
"As you battle COVID, we have to make sure that businesses and workers have the tools, the resources and the national guidance and health and safety standards to operate safely."
