Manila – Over 1,000 healthcare workers
in the country were positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), majority
of which were doctors, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Based on DOH’s data, 1,062 infected healthcare workers were positive for virus
– 422 doctors, 386 nurses, 30 medical technologists, 21 radiological
technologists, 51 nursing assistants and 152 other medical personnel such as
administrative staff and barangay health workers.
From the total number of positive healthcare workers, 26 have succumbed to
COVID-19, including 19 doctors.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque expressed alarm, citing recommendations
from Chinese experts to shorten the duty of medical frontliners.
“Talagang nababahala ang gobyerno dahil
kung magkakasakit sila, sinong mag-aalaga sa atin? Dadamihan natin ang PPE, hihigpitan
natin ang protocol sa infection
control,” Roque said in a media briefing on Thursday.
For his part, Dr. Abdi Mahamud, World
Health Organization -Western Pacific Region COVID-19 Incident manager, said he
is working with the DOH to find out if there is a possible shortage of personal
protective equipment causing this trend.
The DOH maintained that it is following WHO-guided protocols on the use of PPE for
medical frontliners. The agency is also working with local manufacturers on
producing more sets.
The agency also assured that there are negative pressure isolation rooms in
hospitals that prevent the spread of the virus./PN
