Nearly 8,000 Filipinos infected with COVID-19

April 29, 2020

Nearly 8,000 have been infected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),  the Department of Health ( DOH) said Tuesday.

There are  7,958 reported COVID-19 after 181 new cases were announced. And 16.8 percent of the total are health care workers, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

The World Health Organization said last week the situation facing Philippine healthcare workers is worrisome.

Nineteen deaths were announced, bringing the total to 530 but recoveries approached 1,000 after the aggregate reached 975, with 43 new cases.

Among healthcare workers infected with COVID-19,  a total of 507 were  nurses, 493 doctors, 74 nursing assistants, 47 medical technologists, 28 radiologic technologists, 11 respiratory therapists, and 11 midwives.

The rest, which are 165, are composed of  dentists, barangay health workers, and administrative aides.

Deaths among health care workers are 29, including 22 doctors.

The DOH has come up with an emergency hiring program of healthcare workers.

Vergeire said DOH is finalizing changes in the shifting schedule of health workers to give them more rest and to give temporary accomodation to them near the hospitals where they work.

"We will be exploring every possible measures so that we can address the risks faced by our healthcare workers," she said. DMS