Health C.D.C. Says More Than 9,000 Health Care Workers Have Contracted Coronavirus - The New York Times

Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday that 9,282 health care professionals had contracted the coronavirus in the United States as of April 9 and that 27 had died from it.

The agency cautioned that the numbers were most likely higher than reported because of inconsistencies in data-gathering and the lack of information during the outbreak. “This is likely an underestimation,” the report said, because the occupational status of patients was available for only 16 percent of the cases in the United States reported to the C.D.C.

Health care workers are among the most vulnerable groups during the pandemic because of their proximity to infected patients, a situation made worse because some have been working with inadequate protective equipment and clothing resulting from shortages.

The report said that some health care professionals with mild or asymptomatic cases might not have been tested at all.

The 9,282 reported cases of infected health care workers is only 3 percent of the total number of cases reported to the C.D.C. using a standardized form during the period from Feb. 12 to April 9. The agency said that among states with more complete reporting of the occupational status of those reporting positive for the virus, the number of infected health care workers rose to 11 percent.

Dr. Charles Branas, a professor and the chairman of epidemiology at Columbia University, said it was not unusual for research on patients to lack complete information about occupational status. But he said that even incomplete numbers could be useful in demonstrating trends and starting a conversation among scientists.

“Especially if you are in a crisis situation, which obviously we are in,” he said.

The report also stated that the numbers of health care professionals testing positive and dying from Covid-19 were likely to go up as more cases are presented at health care facilities.

“It is critical to make every effort to ensure the health and safety of this essential national work force of approximately 18 million H.C.P., both at work and in the community,” the report said. “Surveillance is necessary for monitoring the impact of Covid-19-associated illness and better informing the implementation of infection prevention and control measures.”

The office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector general reported that hospitals across the country were experiencing shortages of personal protective equipment and that “fear and uncertainty were taking an emotional toll on staff, both professionally and personally.”

• 
  

  Updated April 11, 2020

  
  
  • 
    

    When will this end?

    
    

    This is a difficult question, because a lot depends on how well the virus is contained. A better question might be: “How will we know when to reopen the country?” In an American Enterprise Institute report, Scott Gottlieb, Caitlin Rivers, Mark B. McClellan, Lauren Silvis and Crystal Watson staked out four goal posts for recovery: Hospitals in the state must be able to safely treat all patients requiring hospitalization, without resorting to crisis standards of care; the state needs to be able to at least test everyone who has symptoms; the state is able to conduct monitoring of confirmed cases and contacts; and there must be a sustained reduction in cases for at least 14 days.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    How can I help?

    
    

    Charity Navigator, which evaluates charities using a numbers-based system, has a running list of nonprofits working in communities affected by the outbreak. You can give blood through the American Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen has stepped in to distribute meals in major cities. More than 30,000 coronavirus-related GoFundMe fund-raisers have started in the past few weeks. (The sheer number of fund-raisers means more of them are likely to fail to meet their goal, though.)

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    What should I do if I feel sick?

    
    

    If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Should I wear a mask?

    
    

    The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    How do I get tested?

    
    

    If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    How does coronavirus spread?

    
    

    It seems to spread very easily from person to person, especially in homes, hospitals and other confined spaces. The pathogen can be carried on tiny respiratory droplets that fall as they are coughed or sneezed out. It may also be transmitted when we touch a contaminated surface and then touch our face.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Is there a vaccine yet?

    
    

    No. Clinical trials are underway in the United States, China and Europe. But American officials and pharmaceutical executives have said that a vaccine remains at least 12 to 18 months away.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    What makes this outbreak so different?

    
    

    Unlike the flu, there is no known treatment or vaccine, and little is known about this particular virus so far. It seems to be more lethal than the flu, but the numbers are still uncertain. And it hits the elderly and those with underlying conditions — not just those with respiratory diseases — particularly hard.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    What if somebody in my family gets sick?

    
    

    If the family member doesn’t need hospitalization and can be cared for at home, you should help him or her with basic needs and monitor the symptoms, while also keeping as much distance as possible, according to guidelines issued by the C.D.C. If there’s space, the sick family member should stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom. If masks are available, both the sick person and the caregiver should wear them when the caregiver enters the room. Make sure not to share any dishes or other household items and to regularly clean surfaces like counters, doorknobs, toilets and tables. Don’t forget to wash your hands frequently.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Should I stock up on groceries?

    
    

    Plan two weeks of meals if possible. But people should not hoard food or supplies. Despite the empty shelves, the supply chain remains strong. And remember to wipe the handle of the grocery cart with a disinfecting wipe and wash your hands as soon as you get home.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Can I go to the park?

    
    

    Yes, but make sure you keep six feet of distance between you and people who don’t live in your home. Even if you just hang out in a park, rather than go for a jog or a walk, getting some fresh air, and hopefully sunshine, is a good idea.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Should I pull my money from the markets?

    
    

    That’s not a good idea. Even if you’re retired, having a balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds so that your money keeps up with inflation, or even grows, makes sense. But retirees may want to think about having enough cash set aside for a year’s worth of living expenses and big payments needed over the next five years.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    What should I do with my 401(k)?

    
    

    Watching your balance go up and down can be scary. You may be wondering if you should decrease your contributions — don’t! If your employer matches any part of your contributions, make sure you’re at least saving as much as you can to get that “free money.”

    
    
  
  

---

Read More from Source

Health C.D.C. Says More Than 9,000 Health Care Workers Have Contracted Coronavirus - The New York Times

• Tweet
• Share
• Share
• Share
• Share