Global burden of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers. Issue 2 (6th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Papoutsi, Eleni; Giannakoulis, Vassilis G.; Ntella, Vasiliki; Pappa, Sofia; Katsaounou, Paraskevi
• Is Part Of: ERJ open research. Volume 6:Issue 2(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-07-06
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; Respiration; Respiratory organs -- Diseases; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Treatment; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Electronic journals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Periodical; 616.2005
• DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00195-2020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2312-0541

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic οn March 11, 2020. Healthcare workers (HCWs), though vital for the functioning of the health systems during this global pandemic crisis, are unequivocally exposed to increased risk of infection through direct contact with patients. The European Respiratory Society, in a signed joint statement at the end of March, urged the European Union and national governments to prioritise health and safety of the frontline fight against COVID-19 [1]. In COVID-19 Situation Report 82, the World Health Organization (WHO) subject stressed the under-representativeness and paucity of publications and national situation reports that provide information on the number of infected HCWs. In this report, 52 countries had reported a total of 22 073 HCWs that had contracted COVID-19 [2]. Considering the current paucity of consolidated data on this, we attempted to quantify the number of reported HCW infections and case fatalities from COVID-19 in different areas and countries. Provision of PPE, placing experienced HCWs mostly in organisational positions, increasing testing, minimising exposure by adjusting shift schedules, and providing food and sleep facilities could be some restorative measures to protect HCWs from #COVID19 https://bit.ly/2zcVARW