Weekly Count Shows Fewer COVID-19 Cases Among Healthcare Workers; deaths up to 72

MANILA – There were 292 new cases of COVID-19 among healthcare workers in the Philippines in the past week, while the total deaths reached 72, data from the Department of Health showed.

“This is 29 cases less than the 263 cases of the previous week, or from November 1 to 7,” said the ABS-CBN Investigation and Investigation Group (IRG).

The 292 new cases for the week is the 18th highest since the DOH regularly released its count since April 28. The highest number of cases among healthcare workers in a single week was recorded in the week of September 6-12, with 1,140 new cases. ABS-CBN IRG said.

72 DEATHS

As of November 16, the number of healthcare workers who died from COVID-19 increased to 72.

The additional death was a physical therapist.

“Doctors continue to represent the highest proportion of deaths, accounting for 4 out of 10 deaths (41.67%) among health workers. This is despite the fact that more nurses were confirmed positive for COVID-19 than physicians, with 4,173 nurses testing positive for the disease versus 2,053 physicians as of November 14, ”ABS-CBN IRG said.

DOH previously explained that most of the doctors who died had pre-existing illnesses and died during the first months of the pandemic when many patients continued to clog hospital emergency rooms.

MOSTLY MILD CASES

Of the total 11,805 COVID-19 cases among healthcare workers as of November 16, 11,518 have already recovered.

This brings the number of active cases to 215. Of these, 46% have mild symptoms and 37.67% are asymptomatic.

Less than 10% (21 people) have severe symptoms such as pneumonia, 5.12% (11 people) are in critical condition and 1.4% (3 people) have moderate symptoms such as non-severe pneumonia.