Department of Health (DOH) reported on Wednesday, April 22 that there already over a thousand health workers infected with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In a virtual presser, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed that there are 1,062 healthcare workers who were tested positive for COVID-19. Of this number, 422 are doctors, 386 are nurses, 30 are medical technologists, 21 are radiologic technologists, 51 nursing assistants, 152 belong to other health frontliners such as administrative workforce and barangay health workers.
Vergeire added that there are already 26 health workers who passed away due to the dreaded disease, 19 of them are doctors.
The Undersecretary also assured that the DOH will always protect the welfare of these health workers.
“The Department is one with the World Health Organization in investigating those who are not following the infection control protocols in health facilities. We are always ready to give needed support to our health frontliners who sacrificed in the fight against COVID-19,” said Vergeire.
“We are always looking for ways to ensure the safety of our health frontliners. Our ‘health warriors’ are priority of this Department,” she added.
Vergeire said that aside from continuous procurement personal protective equipment (PPEs) for health workers, the health department is also making sure that these PPEs are used properly. They are also implementing engineering controls and using negative pressure isolation rooms in hospital to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
As of 4PM today, April 22, DOH reported 111 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the total number of cases in the country at 6,710.
DOH also announced 39 new recoveries and 9 new deaths. This brings the total number of recoveries to 693 and deaths to 446.
