By Analou De Vera
The number of healthcare workers infected with the novel coronavirus in the country has reached 1,694, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Friday.
Health Assistant Secretary Maria Vergeire (Facebook/MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said about one in every five confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country was a healthcare worker.
“Halos isa sa bawat limang nakatalang kaso ng COVID-19 ay healthcare worker. Ito'y nakakalungkot,” Vergeire said in a press briefing on Friday afternoon.
(About one in every five cases of COVID-19 is a healthcare worker. This is saddening.)
“Kung magpapatuloy ang ganitong trend, maaring dumating ang panahon na magkulang na ang mag-aalaga sa ating mga pasyente."
(If this trend continues, the time might come when we won’t have enough people to take care of our patients.)
Of the total figure, Vergeire reported that 638 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 are pharmacists.
Meanwhile, the remaining 237 comprise other healthcare workers such as barangay health workers, administrative aides, and utility workers, among others.
On the other hand, Vergeire reported that there are 256 healthcare workers who have already recuperated from the disease.
There are 33 healthcare workers who have died, including 24 doctors and seven nurses.
According to Vergeire, some medical facilities with healthcare workers afflicted with COVID-19 include the National Center for Mental Health, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, 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 Medical Center, and Baguio General Hospital.