1 in 5 virus cases involves healthcare worker

(File Photo)
(File Photo)

ABOUT one in five cases of novel coronavirus infection in the Philippines involves a healthcare worker based on the latest figures released by the Department of Health (DOH).

As of Friday, May 1, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said there were 1,694 healthcare workers out of the 8,772 coronavirus-positive individuals in the country.

This is equivalent to 19.3 percent, or nearly one out of five cases.

"Almost one in every five Covid-19 case is a healthcare worker. This is very saddening," said Vergeire in a virtual press conference Friday.

She said the agency was worried that if such a trend continues, the medical frontliners would be severely depleted.

"If the trend continues, we may come to a point that we would be lacking individuals to take care of our patients," said Vergeire.

As of Friday, 638 of the cases are nurses, 566 are doctors, 104 are nursing assistants, 66 are medical technologists, 32 are radiologic technologists, 19 are midwives, 18 are respiratory therapists, and 14 pharmacists.

The remaining 237 are composed of other healthcare workers, such as barangay health workers, administrative aides, and utility workers, among others.

A total of 33 healthcare workers had died from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which is caused by the novel coronavirus, or Sars-CoV-2.

Of the mortalities, 24 were doctors and seven were nurses.

On the other hand, a total of 256 healthcare workers have been able to recover from Covid-19.

Among the medical facilities and hospitals, the National Center for Mental Health had the highest number of infected healthcare workers with 65 confirmed cases.

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine followed with 45 cases.

Other public hospitals with healthcare workers who contracted the disease are the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Bataan Medical Hospital and Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Mandaluyong City Medical Center, Tondo Medical Center, Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, and Baguio General Hospital. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)

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