Out of the total, there are 1,389 active cases or workers who are currently experiencing the illness — 1,026 have mild symptoms, 356 have no symptoms and seven are severe cases.
The DOH maintained that the rate of infection among health workers continues to follow a downward trend since April 11, adding that the agency’s prevention methods have been “effective” in protecting frontliners.
The agency also continues to allow more hospitals to recruit new workers through its emergency hiring program. The DOH said it approved 3,664 slots in 62 hospitals and quarantine centers, of which 1,187 openings have been filled in 11 of the facilities.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 12) — More than 2,000 health workers have contracted the coronavirus disease, the Department of Health reported on Tuesday, as the death toll in the sector rose to 35.
The DOH said the number of infections among medical frontliners has increased to 2,067, with 76 additional cases. From this figure, 759 are nurses, 631 are physicians, 129 are nursing assistants, 72 are medical technologists, 39 are radiologic technologists while the rest are barangay health workers, utility workers and administrative aides, among others.
The new tally means 19 percent of the country total, or one out of five cases, involves health workers. The national case tally is now at 11,350, with 2,106 recoveries and 751 deaths as of Tuesday.
It also deployed 747 nurses across the country.
However, the World Health Organization earlier expressed concern over the country’s number of infected health personnel back when the rate of infection was still at 13 percent. It said the number was much higher than the 2-3 percent in the WHO’s Western Pacific Region comprising 37 member states including China.
Meanwhile, the department recorded another fatality involving a health worker, the first death in over a week.
Some 99 health personnel have also recovered from COVID-19, bringing the number of survivors to 643.
