CLOSE to 8,000 individuals have been afflicted with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Philippines, and one of every six of the patients is a medical frontliner.
The Department of Health said the total number of COVID-19 cases was 7,958, as of 4 p.m. Tuesday. The figure includes 1,336 health workers Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing.
There were 181 new cases reported on Tuesday, and 19 fatalities or a total of 530 deaths.
Forty-three more patients have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries among COVID-19 patients to 975.
Among the 1,336 infected healthcare workers, 507 are nurses, 493 physicians, 74 nursing assistants, 47 medical technologists, 28 radiologic technologists, 11 respiratory therapists, and 11 midwives. The remaining 165 are other healthcare workers such as dentists, barangay health workers, and administrative aides.
The number of healthcare workers who have died from COVID-19 is 29, including 22 physicians.
COVID-19, which is caused by the SARS CoV-2 virus, originated in China and has spread to 213 countries and territories since it emerged late last year, according to the World Health Organization. WHO figures also show at least 2.88 million individuals have been infected worldwide as of April 27, including 198,842 deaths.
The Philippines ranks fifth among countries in the Western Pacific Region with COVID cases, after China, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea.
Vergeire said the DOH will continue to employ measures that will lessen the vulnerability of health workers, including emergency hiring to expand the pool of medical personnel in hospitals, and changes in shifting schedule to give the health workers more time to rest and reduce their exposure to patients.
Vergeire said the DOH is also looking for ways to provide temporary accommodation to healthcare workers, which are near the hospitals they are working in, to minimize their community exposure.
“All of these we will be doing so that we will be able to preserve our frontliners,” she said.
FILIPINOS ABROAD
The Department of Foreign Affairs said 209 more Filipinos abroad were infected with COVID-19, bringing the total in 46 countries to 1,604.
The DFA said the number marked the “largest single day increase in the past month” in the number of Filipinos with the virus.
Of the 1,604, the DFA said 996 remain in hospitals, 419 have recovered, and 189 have died.
The Americas is still the most deadly place for Filipinos infected with COVID-19 with 107 deaths followed by Europe with 64, the Middle East and Africa 16, and Asia and the Pacific, two.
America also has the most number of infected Filipinos, at 457 cases, including 101 who have recovered. Europe came in next with 454 cases (106 recoveries), Asia and the Pacific, 360 cases (201 recoveries); and the Middle East and African regions, 333 cases (11 recoveries).
In Saudi Arabia, Consul General Edgar Badajos said two Filipino workers have died from COVID-19 while 42 others are being treated in hospitals in Jeddah.
Five have recovered and were cleared for discharge from hospitals.
Badajos turned in the report during an interview aired at the “Laging Handa” public briefing, as he appealed to Filipinos in the western region of the kingdom to comply with all health precautions to avoid getting infected.
“The situation is getting more serious as hospitals here were inundated by the number of patients needing admission. They are now only giving priority to COVID-19 cases. Those deemed ‘non-essential medical services’ are being turned away,” he said.
However, Badajos saved a special commendation for Filipino nurses and other health workers who are in the frontlines of the battle to contain the infection in Jeddah.
FOOD BANK DRIVE
Badajos said the consulate took the initiative of conducting a food bank drive the day after the Saudi government announced a suspension of work in both the public and private sectors on March 16.
“We recognized that there will be an urgent need for assistance by our countrymen because of the existing no work, no pay policy. Even now, we are having a hard time meeting the demand and we heard of some who are already short on food,” Badajos said.
He said the food drive is a joint effort with a group of civic-minded Filipinos under the OFW Council of Leaders whose members go around Filipino communities for donations.
“We are proud to say the community responded generously so that we were able to distribute food packs and drinking water to those who need them,” the consul said.
Some 3,000 stranded Filipinos have received supplies from the food bank drive including noodles, canned food, water and eggs.
Badajos said the work stoppage since the third week of March meant many businesses employing Filipino workers are experiencing trouble even if the Saudi government extended assistance to tide them over.
“But because of the no-work, no-pay policy, it is our countrymen who are hit the hardest. We appeal to our fellow Filipinos to remain vigilant even after the curfew in Jeddah is lifted and they are allowed to go back to work,” he added.
JAILS
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said 229 inmates and jail guards have been infected with COVID-19.
It said 195 inmates or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) contracted the virus, mostly at the Cebu City Jail — 146 inmates from the male dormitory and 39 from the female dormitory; nine at the Quezon City Jail male dorm; and one inmate at the Mandaue City Jail male dorm.
The BJMP also said 34 personnel of the Cebu City Jail were infected; four from the Quezon City Jail, two from the Caloocan City jail, and once each from the BJMP regional office in Western Visayas and the Marikina, Pasay, and Mandaluyong city jails.
Five of the 34 infected BJMP personnel have recovered. — With Ashzel Hachero, Peter Tabingo, and Victor Reyes