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How Covid-19 positive voters came out of quarantine to vote, Internet calls election staff 'legit heroes'

'It really speaks volumes but also shows the sacrifices people are willing to make for fellow Americans,' said a user

As voters line up to cast their votes amidst a pandemic in arguably one of the most polarized presidential elections in America's history on November 3, staff members of the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners are ensuring that the victims of the Covid-19 disease also get a say in who their president will be. A day before Election Day, the St. Louis election staff geared up in PPE suits to assist Covid-19 positive voters cast their ballots curbside. 

Photojournalist Robert Cohen took to Twitter to share some heartwarming pictures of Covid-19 patients and election staff members working together to make it possible for them to cast their votes. Cohen, along with the pictures, wrote: "#COVID19 positive voters cast ballots curbside in St. Louis on eve of the election. Very, very 2020." His post soon became viral on Twitter and received over 13,000 likes as many swarmed to the post to note how emotional the images were while others lauded the election staff members as "heroes" for the "amazing" work they were doing.

One Twitter user wrote: "I heard about this on KMOV tonight, but I missed the video. This is amazing! How great that ill/isolated folks are pushing forth to vote, and that there are people there to process them. Wonderful!" Another added: "Thank you to the men and women that suited up so that these Americans could vote." Another person reacted to the second user's comment, writing: "Legit heroes. That's amazing." A fourth wrote: "Wild, Not sure why but I immediately felt sad and proud at the same time. Whirlwind of emotions."

One user pointed out that sacrifices the election workers were making for other Americans: "It really speaks volumes but also shows the sacrifices people are willing to make for fellow Americans." A sixth wrote: "I expected today to be emotional, but these photos literally brought me to tears. Blessings to these poll workers and voters - thanks for reminding me our democracy can be a beautiful thing!" Another took a dig at President Trump and the GOP, sayinh: "See people risking their health to ensure that all Americans can vote. Meanwhile Trump and the GOP takes states to court to try and have ballots thrown out and deny people access to voting. Including trying to ensure that no US troops overseas are allowed to vote." One wrote: "Wow, nice to see that area at least taking appropriate precautions and also encouraging everyone to vote. I think other places are just letting sick people stand in line for hours and vote with everyone else. Hello from a state that’s had universal drop-off ballots for a decade."

The move came as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that people who are in quarantine or sick with Covid-19 were permitted to vote in person for the US elections. In its recently updated guidelines, CDC stated: "Voters have the right to vote, regardless of whether they are sick or in quarantine." The guidelines, however, require the affected voters to let poll workers know that you are sick or in quarantine before appearing at the station.