Inside a hard-hit COVID-19 ward in Houston

1. Inside a hard-hit COVID-19 ward in Houston

2. A healthcare workers treats a patient infected with the coronavirus on New Year's Day at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, January 1, 2021.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

3. Duc Nguyen speaks with his wife using FaceTime on New Year's Day from inside the coronavirus unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, January 1, 2021.

4. Gabriel Cervera and Sanjana Krishnan work on the schedule for 2021 inside the coronavirus unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 31, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

5. Nurses look at the nightly schedule during a shift change as healthcare workers treat patients infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 31, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

6. Gabriel Cervera FaceTimes his family in Mexico while he and other healthcare workers treat patients infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 31, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

7. Manuel Espinoza speaks with his wife to celebrate New Year's Day from inside the coronavirus unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, January 1, 2021.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

8. Monitors screens from video cameras showing patients are seen reflected at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 30, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

9. Beads of sweat gather on the face shield of a healthcare worker as she treats patients infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 31, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

10. Healthcare workers change the tube on an intubated patient infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 31, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

11. Healthcare workers treat a patient infected with COVID-19 at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 29, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

12. Gabriel Cervera and Sanjana Krishnan take a break from treating coronavirus patients at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 29, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

13. Tanna Ingraham places the body of a patient who died due to the coronavirus inside a body bag, at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 30, 2020.

14. Tanna Ingraham places a sheet over the body of a patient who died inside the coronavirus unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 30, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

15. A sheet covers the body of a patient who died in the coronavirus unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 30, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

16. Consuelo Castellanos is treated for the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 30, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

17. Alonso Lugo helps a patient try to stand inside the coronavirus unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 30, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

18. Gabriel Cervera briefly rests on an empty hospital bed within the coronavirus unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 30, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

19. Dr. Joseph Varon looks at table filled with donuts, which were delivered to the coronavirus unit, at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 30, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

20. A healthcare worker wears protective equipment inside the coronavirus unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 30, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

21. Healthcare workers treat patients infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 31, 2020.

22. Dr. Joseph Varon treats a coronavirus patient at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 29, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

23. An intubated patient is seen as healthcare workers treat coronavirus patients at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

24. Healthcare workers place a femoral arterial line in a patient infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

25. Healthcare workers treat patients infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

26. A healthcare worker places a BiPAP machine on a patient infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

27. A healthcare worker communicates with a patient who is asking to go home inside the coronavirus unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

28. Gabriel Cervera wears protective equipment as healthcare workers treat coronavirus patients at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 30, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

29. A healthcare worker helps as an endoscopy is performed on a patient at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 29, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

30. A healthcare worker waits with Juana Negrete, who is being picked up after she was discharged from the COVID-19 unit, at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 29, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

31. A healthcare worker wheels a bed to meet a patient who is being admitted into the COVID unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 29, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

32. A healthcare worker treats Manuel Espinoza who is infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 29, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

33. A patient is seen as healthcare workers treat patients infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

34. A healthcare worker places a BiPAP machine on a patient infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

35. A healthcare worker is seen while treating patients infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020.  REUTERS/Callaghan O'Harë

36. A healthcare worker treats a patient infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

37. Gabriel Cervera tries to wake a patient who was extubated in the coronavirus unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

38. Healthcare workers go over patients' medical records inside the coronavirus unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

39. Dr. Varon and a team of healthcare workers treat patients infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

40. Gabriel Cervera tries to help a patient who was extubated regain movement in the coronavirus unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

41. Gabriel Cervera treats a patient infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

42. Dr. Varon fills a syringe with water as healthcare workers treat patients infected with the coronavirus at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

43. Healthcare workers treat a patient who was extubated in the coronavirus unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, December 28, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare