tepperman cameto to us exhausted. we maintain social distancing, each in a different location. >> covid comes in waves. it comes in waves. so, it could be manageable in the emergency room at a given moment. and then, we're hit with a terrible wave. >> reporter: hwhen that wave washes in, what is it like in the e.r.? >> emergency medicine physicians, and nurses, they have got to stare into the faces of the very scared citizens in new york. and at a certain point, when they can no longer breathe for themselves, they have to have a tube put down their throat and they have to be put on on the ventilator. >> you told us it was like hell on earth. >> yes. well, i'm -- you know, i'm calibrating what i'm saying here. right? we -- people need to stay home. new york city is on fire. our neighbors are dying. health care workers are being affected. right now, you know, my boss, my second in command, my nephew, senior nurse, second senior nurse. >> reporter: the people you just mentioned have fallen ill from covid-19? >> yes. and

tepperman cameto to us exhausted.distancing, each in a different location. >> covid comes in waves. it comes in waves. so, it could be manageable in the emergency room at a given moment. and then, we're hit with a terrible wave. >> reporter: hwhen that wave washes in, what is it like in the e.r.? >> emergency medicine physicians, and nurses, they have got to stare into the faces of the very scared citizens in new york. and at a certain point, when they can no longer breathe for themselves, they have to have a tube put down their throat and they have to be put on on the ventilator. >> you told us it was like hell on earth. >> yes.