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Tavaun Morris has always been passionate about driving from a tender age. Since February, he has been dedicating this love for the wheels into the healthcare system.

The 25-year-old is now an ambulance driver stationed at the St Ann's Bay Hospital.

"I always wanted to drive an ambulance or fire truck or some form of emergency unit because driving is a passion for me, and driving an emergency unit makes me feel like I'm doing something of great purpose," Morris told THE STAR.

Landing the job as a front-line worker at the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic amounts to a special calling, Morris believes. Ambulance drivers are required to be adept at defensive driving and be gifted with nerves of steel.

"I feel very good about being a part of the COVID-19 fight. I'm in it and it is not by chance. I had never thought that I would be working in a pandemic, but being that I am in the field, I'm doing it as best as I know how to," he added.

Jamaica is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, with the Government now declaring that the virus has reached the community transmission phase.

It means that the virus can no longer be traced throughout the population. Front-line workers like Morris are now at a greater risk of becoming infected by the novel coronavirus, but the Priory, St Ann native is undaunted as he goes about his ambulance-driving duties.

"I don't feel no way at all transporting persons with COVID-19 because it is my job, and I love my job," he said. "Right now, whether it is a patient or not, we have to treat everyone like they have the virus, so I just have to continue protecting myself."

Morris said that the moment he sits around the wheel to transport a patient, whether COVID-19 related or otherwise, his sole focus is to do his best to help save that person's life.

"Is like I have a little adrenaline thing when I'm taking patients. I know that their life is basically in my hands. The other day I took a patient to Ocho Rios, and to how fast and careful I transported the patient, one of the doctors shake my hand and say, 'Youth, you are built for this'."