Department of Health (DOH) announced on Wednesday, April 8 that there are already 252 health workers who tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) around the country. Some of them have already passed away.
In a virtual press conference, DOH Special Assistant Dr. Beverly Ho confirmed that 252 medical personnel have contracted the dreaded disease. Out of the number, 152 are doctors or 62 percent and 63 are nurses or around 25 percent of the total cases.
Ho added that 12 of these health workers have died due to COVID-19.
To protect these frontliners, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) assured that all hospitals – public and private – will receive personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies for their health workers against the COVID-19.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Ricardo Jalad said the office has started the distribution of PPE sets to hospitals tagged as Covid-19 referral centers.
Jalad said 2,780 PPE sets were delivered to San Lazaro Hospital, 2,000 to Philippine General Hospital, 770 to East Avenue Medical Center, 2,800 to Lung Center of the Philippines, 2,590 to Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium, and 1,100 to Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center.
Each PPE set consists of a pair goggles, coverall, head cover, gloves, shoe cover, surgical mask, and a surgical gown.
More PPE sets are expected to arrive between April 6 to 24, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
In recognition of their sacrifice, the government is giving PHP1-million compensation to health workers who die while battling Covid-19.
Public and private health workers who may contract severe Covid-19 infection while in the line of duty will also get PHP100,000 compensation.