OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — We’ve told you about doctors and nurses pushed to the limit by the pandemic, but there’s also a whole team behind the scenes who are on the front line.

KFOR spoke to an environmental services worker from SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital about his role in the fight against COVID-19.

“Housekeeping is the most important thing in the hospital. We have to make sure everything is sanitized and disinfected every day,” housekeeper Micahela Parish said.

Like many hospitals, the pandemic has strained healthcare systems and staff members. We shed light on nurses’ fight to keep people alive and their day-to-day work. But what about the people who sanitize and disinfect rooms before and after patients?

“I clean and wipe rooms top to bottom just to make sure we’re doing what we can to limit the spread of the virus,” Parish said.

Parish told KFOR that she has worked for SSM Health for five years now. On average, she disinfects more than 20 rooms each shift.

“Some days you might have good days, some days you might have bad days,” Parish said.

Parish shared her story in the hope that people realize that housekeepers play a vital role in the fight against COVID-19.

Parish said that like nurses, patients become her family, a job she takes seriously.

“It’s a bit overwhelming, but it’s good. They’ll get you through the day,” Parish said.

Parish told KFOR that she hopes this story inspires people to take COVID safety precautions seriously.