'No-one goes to medical school thinking they’ll end up being the patient'

A New York City doctor has described the "heartache" of working on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hadi Halazun is a cardiologist redeployed to assist in the fight against coronavirus. He told the ABC's The Drum he’s shocked by what he has seen.

“The number of patients and the frequency by which they come — this is something that most of us who have had a lot experience have never seen in our lives before, and it's pretty scary.”

NYC is a new epicentre of the pandemic – more than 10,000 people alone have died there as a result of coronavirus. There are nearly 140,000 confirmed cases.

Speaking from New York, Dr Halazun described the pain of seeing families isolated, until – in some cases – a loved one’s final moments.

“I have never felt such heartache, you know. I just couldn't stay in the room and I'm obviously having a hard time telling you about it.”

For now, Dr Halazun is undeterred by the health risk he himself is facing – he tries not to think about it.

“I think our patients need us. Even if they do pose a risk to our own health, we still owe it to them to be able to treat them the right way.”

As for the city’s "sunset ritual" – where locals break out in applause at 7:00pm each day?

“It’s so emotional. I still am yet to go through one of those without starting to cry.”

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The Drum airs weeknights on ABC and News Channel

Reporting by Ellyn Duncan