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Pictures | Fri Dec 11, 2020 | 12:23pm EST

'The country needs me': cleaner in Chicago's COVID wards proud to fight pandemic

Evelia De La Cruz, a hospital housekeeper at Roseland Community Hospital, cleans a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. When hospital cleaner Evelia De La Cruz was assigned to the COVID-19 ward in March, she was afraid. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz, a hospital housekeeper at Roseland Community Hospital, cleans a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. When hospital cleaner Evelia De La...more

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz, a hospital housekeeper at Roseland Community Hospital, cleans a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. When hospital cleaner Evelia De La Cruz was assigned to the COVID-19 ward in March, she was afraid. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz dresses in her PPE suit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. A 60-year-old immigrant from the southern coast of Mexico, De La Cruz was tasked with stripping sheets and sanitizing beds as first a handful, and then a deluge, of coronavirus patients brought infection to her Chicago hospital. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz dresses in her PPE suit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. A 60-year-old immigrant from the southern coast of Mexico, De La Cruz was tasked with stripping sheets and sanitizing beds as first a handful, and...more

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz dresses in her PPE suit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. A 60-year-old immigrant from the southern coast of Mexico, De La Cruz was tasked with stripping sheets and sanitizing beds as first a handful, and then a deluge, of coronavirus patients brought infection to her Chicago hospital. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz cleans for coronavirus positive patient Bruce Shackleford in his isolation room on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. "I prayed for God to give me the courage," she said. Some of De La Cruz's colleagues refused to work the COVID-19 wards, she said, leaving the hospital understaffed. She has been laboring seven days a week, at times for weeks on end. "Every day I went to work, even on my days off, because I know that the patients need me, the hospital and the country needs me," she said. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz cleans for coronavirus positive patient Bruce Shackleford in his isolation room on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. "I prayed for God to give me the courage," she said. Some of De La Cruz's colleagues refused...more

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz cleans for coronavirus positive patient Bruce Shackleford in his isolation room on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. "I prayed for God to give me the courage," she said. Some of De La Cruz's colleagues refused to work the COVID-19 wards, she said, leaving the hospital understaffed. She has been laboring seven days a week, at times for weeks on end. "Every day I went to work, even on my days off, because I know that the patients need me, the hospital and the country needs me," she said. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz disinfects the room where a coronavirus positive patient died in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 1, 2020. Throughout the northern hemisphere spring, as the coronavirus ravaged through international cities, residents of Rome, Madrid, New York City and beyond took to their balconies to applaud frontline medical workers who, often overlooked in non-pandemic years, had become symbols of sacrifice in terrifying times. Ten months and over a million and a half global deaths later, nurses and doctors continue to risk their lives every day as they report to the hospitals. Yet, their ability to work has relied on a less visible category of frontline staff: cleaners and janitors like De La Cruz. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz disinfects the room where a coronavirus positive patient died in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 1, 2020. Throughout the northern hemisphere spring, as the coronavirus ravaged through...more

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz disinfects the room where a coronavirus positive patient died in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 1, 2020. Throughout the northern hemisphere spring, as the coronavirus ravaged through international cities, residents of Rome, Madrid, New York City and beyond took to their balconies to applaud frontline medical workers who, often overlooked in non-pandemic years, had become symbols of sacrifice in terrifying times. Ten months and over a million and a half global deaths later, nurses and doctors continue to risk their lives every day as they report to the hospitals. Yet, their ability to work has relied on a less visible category of frontline staff: cleaners and janitors like De La Cruz. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz cleans the isolation room of coronavirus positive patient Andre Johnson on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. These workers also risk infection and death but receive far fewer accolades. In the United States, many are immigrants from Latin America, a population already hard-hit by the pandemic. Since the outbreak began, the only time De La Cruz took more than the occasional day off was in July, when she herself was infected with the virus. After a month-long recovery, she returned to disinfecting the coronavirus-contaminated areas of the hospital. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz cleans the isolation room of coronavirus positive patient Andre Johnson on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. These workers also risk infection and death but receive far fewer accolades. In the United States,...more

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz cleans the isolation room of coronavirus positive patient Andre Johnson on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. These workers also risk infection and death but receive far fewer accolades. In the United States, many are immigrants from Latin America, a population already hard-hit by the pandemic. Since the outbreak began, the only time De La Cruz took more than the occasional day off was in July, when she herself was infected with the virus. After a month-long recovery, she returned to disinfecting the coronavirus-contaminated areas of the hospital. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz cleans the isolation room of a coronavirus positive patient in the intensive care unit at the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. De La Cruz keeps a vase filled with fresh flowers in her home, where she prays for the health of her family and for an end to the pandemic. "I'm proud to serve the sick and this country," said De La Cruz, who has lived in the United States for three decades. Her neighbors sometimes stop to thank her, she said. "'You're so brave,' they tell me," she said. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz cleans the isolation room of a coronavirus positive patient in the intensive care unit at the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. De La Cruz keeps a vase filled with fresh flowers in her home, where she prays for the...more

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz cleans the isolation room of a coronavirus positive patient in the intensive care unit at the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. De La Cruz keeps a vase filled with fresh flowers in her home, where she prays for the health of her family and for an end to the pandemic. "I'm proud to serve the sick and this country," said De La Cruz, who has lived in the United States for three decades. Her neighbors sometimes stop to thank her, she said. "'You're so brave,' they tell me," she said. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz cleans a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz cleans a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz cleans a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz stands while wearing a face mask to protect against the coronavirus before cleaning on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz stands while wearing a face mask to protect against the coronavirus before cleaning on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz stands while wearing a face mask to protect against the coronavirus before cleaning on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz enters the isolation room of a coronavirus positive patient in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz enters the isolation room of a coronavirus positive patient in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz enters the isolation room of a coronavirus positive patient in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz dresses in her PPE suit before entering the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz dresses in her PPE suit before entering the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz dresses in her PPE suit before entering the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz looks down while wearing a PPE suit to protect against the coronavirus, before cleaning on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz looks down while wearing a PPE suit to protect against the coronavirus, before cleaning on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz looks down while wearing a PPE suit to protect against the coronavirus, before cleaning on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz is seen with a protective face mask to protect against the coronavirus, while on her lunch break during her shift on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz is seen with a protective face mask to protect against the coronavirus, while on her lunch break during her shift on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz is seen with a protective face mask to protect against the coronavirus, while on her lunch break during her shift on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz wears a face mask and face shield to protect against the coronavirus, while riding an elevator on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz wears a face mask and face shield to protect against the coronavirus, while riding an elevator on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz wears a face mask and face shield to protect against the coronavirus, while riding an elevator on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz takes waste materials from a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz takes waste materials from a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz takes waste materials from a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz discards garbage from a coronavirus patient's room on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz discards garbage from a coronavirus patient's room on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz discards garbage from a coronavirus patient's room on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz uses a face mask and face shield to protect against the coronavirus before cleaning, on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz uses a face mask and face shield to protect against the coronavirus before cleaning, on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz uses a face mask and face shield to protect against the coronavirus before cleaning, on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz cleans next to a room of a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz cleans next to a room of a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz cleans next to a room of a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz gathers supplies before cleaning on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz gathers supplies before cleaning on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz gathers supplies before cleaning on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz gathers supplies wearing a coronavirus PPE suit before cleaning on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz gathers supplies wearing a coronavirus PPE suit before cleaning on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz gathers supplies wearing a coronavirus PPE suit before cleaning on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz walks with cleaning supplies from a storage unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz walks with cleaning supplies from a storage unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz walks with cleaning supplies from a storage unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz leaves the isolation room of a coronavirus positive patient in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz leaves the isolation room of a coronavirus positive patient in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz leaves the isolation room of a coronavirus positive patient in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz reaches for hand sanitizer before gathering cleaning supplies on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz reaches for hand sanitizer before gathering cleaning supplies on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz reaches for hand sanitizer before gathering cleaning supplies on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz walks past a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz walks past a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz walks past a coronavirus positive patient's isolation room in the intensive care unit on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz looks down before cleaning at the hospital on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz looks down before cleaning at the hospital on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz looks down before cleaning at the hospital on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz walks across a sidewalk after finishing a shift in Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz walks across a sidewalk after finishing a shift in Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz walks across a sidewalk after finishing a shift in Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz wears a protective face mask while cooking at her home in Calumet Park, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz wears a protective face mask while cooking at her home in Calumet Park, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz wears a protective face mask while cooking at her home in Calumet Park, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Evelia De La Cruz eats dinner with her husband Refugio Avila, 67, and grandchild Quezatli Melendez, 12, at her home in Calumet Park, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Evelia De La Cruz eats dinner with her husband Refugio Avila, 67, and grandchild Quezatli Melendez, 12, at her home in Calumet Park, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
Evelia De La Cruz eats dinner with her husband Refugio Avila, 67, and grandchild Quezatli Melendez, 12, at her home in Calumet Park, Illinois, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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A vase of flowers is seen on the table of Evelia De La Cruz, a hospital housekeeper at Roseland Community Hospital, at her home in Calumet Park, Illinois, December 5, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

A vase of flowers is seen on the table of Evelia De La Cruz, a hospital housekeeper at Roseland Community Hospital, at her home in Calumet Park, Illinois, December 5, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Reuters / Friday, December 11, 2020
A vase of flowers is seen on the table of Evelia De La Cruz, a hospital housekeeper at Roseland Community Hospital, at her home in Calumet Park, Illinois, December 5, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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