Apr 16, 2020 - Health

In photos: Americans on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic

Rebecca Falconer

A medical professional from Children's National Hospital works at a coronavirus drive-thru testing site at Trinity University in Washington, D.C. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

While many people stay home under lockdown restrictions in the U.S., millions of essential workers continue to risk their health to serve America.

The big picture: Sen. Elizabeth Warren called essential workers "the backbone of our nation's response to coronavirus," as she and Rep. Ro Khanna proposed a bill protecting them with more health and safety provisions, pay and paid sick, family and medical leave, among other measures. President Trump has said "America is grateful" to those who continue working "every day to care for their fellow citizens!" Here are some of their stories, in photos.

Police ride horses through Times Square as it stands mostly empty as much of the city is void of cars — Police in the formerly bustling Times Square in New York City. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Paramedics of the LAFD Station No9 wear a face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus — Paramedics of the LAFD Station help a homeless patient in downtown Los Angeles. Photo: Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images

Burnell Cotlon, owner of Burnell's Lower Ninth Ward Market in New Orleans, is "working nearly 17 hours a day to make sure it's stocked with groceries and much-needed supplies like face masks and cleaning items, NBC News reports. Photo: Claire Bangser/AFP via Getty Images

Funeral worker prepares for retrieving deceased body for burial amid COVID-19 pandemic at Brooklyn Hospital Center — A funeral worker prepares for retrieving a body for burial at Brooklyn Hospital Center. Photo: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Nurses clean their hands with disinfectant after a patient was screened for COVID-19 at an appointment-only, drive-up clinic set up by the University of Washington Medical Center Northwest Outpatient Medical Center in Seattle. Photo: Karen Ducey/Getty Images

Lay Guzman stands behind a partial protective plastic screen and wears a mask and gloves as she works as a cashier at the Presidente Supermarket — Cashier Lay Guzman works behind a partial protective plastic screen at the Presidente Supermarket in Miami. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

New Yorkers applaud medical front line workers at NYU Langone hospital center in Manhattan — New York firefighters applaud medical workers at NYU Langone hospital center in Manhattan. Photo: John Nacion/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A bus driver for the Detroit, Michigan city bus line DDOT poses for a portrait wearing a protective mask — A bus driver in Detroit. Photo: Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images

Workers in protective gear, process a patient in a car at one of the first drive through testing facilities for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in a parking lot — Workers in protective gear process a patient in a car at a drive-through COVID-19 testing facility outside the University of Utah's Sugar House Health Clinic in Salt Lake City. Photo: George Frey/AFP via Getty Images

A member of the Indiana National Guard wearing a balaclava supports volunteer workers — A member of the Indiana National Guard supports volunteer workers in distributing food at Pantry 279 to help those experiencing food insecurity during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. Photo: Jeremy Hogan/Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Doctors and nurses confer in the Emergency Department of MedStar St. Mary's Hospital in Leonardtown, Maryland. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

A USPS postal worker wears mask while making deliveries in Beacon Hill in Boston — A USPS postal worker making deliveries in Boston. Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Paramedic Patricia Rodriguez fills out reports on a laptop after her 12-hour shift on April 06 — Paramedic Patricia Rodriguez while filling out reports on a laptop after a 12-hour shift in Yonkers, New York. Photo: John Moore/Getty Images

Texas State Troopers wait for drivers to arrive at a check point at the Texas Travel Information Center on the border with Louisiana. Photo: Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images

Workers of White Pony Express a food rescue group based in Pleasant Hill, California — Workers at White Pony Express, a food rescue group in Pleasant Hill, California. The group told Axios they picked up about 15,000 lb. of surplus food from food distributors and supermarkets every day for two weeks, which would've otherwise gone to waste in order to give it to those in need. Photo: White Pony Express

A medical professional hands over a patient's swab test for coronavirus to another in a tent at Somerville Hospital in Somerville, MA — A medical professional hands over a patient's swab test for coronavirus to another in a tent at Somerville Hospital in Somerville, Massachusetts. Photo: David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Go deeper: Podcast: A "bill of rights" for essential workers