ILOILO City – Around 2, 000 health care workers in Region 6 have been infected with COVID-19 as of April 23, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
DOH-6 Medical Coordinator for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases Dr. Marie Jocelyn Te listed 1,852 health workers have been affected including 11 deaths.
The numbers of affected health workers, broken down by province, are as follows: Aklan – 102, Antique – 106, Capiz – 134, Guimaras – 16, Iloilo – 370, Negros Occidental – 348, Bacolod City – 312, Iloilo City – 464.
Among the 11 who died, one was a physician, one a dentist, four nurses, two medical staff, one nursing attendant, and two Barangay Health Workers (BHW).
Dr. Te is reminding patients to be honest to health care workers regarding their symptoms to minimize the risk of spreading the virus to them.
She explained that patients should say if they had been in close contacts with infected individuals so that health care workers can quickly manage and monitor them.
She also told health care workers not to be complacent and to wear their complete Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
“Ang aton gihapon campaign amo nga honest lang gid ang mga pasyente ta kay bal-an mo there are times nga ang mga pasyente… kag sila man mismo nga frontliners indi mag-complacent kon naga-take care sa mga patient,” said Te.
The DOH- 6 also recorded 2,157 infected non-medical frontline workers along with 10 deaths./PN
