America is the continent with the most health personnel infected by Covid-19 in the world

PAHO asks that health personnel have all the personal protection elements to carry out their work.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported that the American continent registers the highest number of health workers infected by covid-19, worldwide. Mexico and the United States are the countries with the most infected doctors, nurses, assistants and paramedics.

Carissa Etienne, director of PAHO, through a virtual conference, reported that almost “5.700 health workers” have fallen ill with coronavirus throughout the region, while “2.500 have succumbed to the virus.”

For PAHO, the health workforce on the continent is the one that has suffered the most from the consequences of the pandemic. She also reported that despite “hopeful trends”, covid-19 continues to claim almost 4.000 lives a day.

Studies confirm that the United States and Mexico are the countries that report the most health personnel as sick, since 1 in 7 cases of Covid-19 belongs to health workers. These two countries account for 85% of all deaths of health professionals in America.

For the PAHO director, most of these infections occur because there is a lack of training in how to protect oneself; slow implementation of patient classification protocols and lack of personal protective equipment.

On the other hand, Etienne affirmed that many doctors had to “reuse masks and gowns” in some cases, while, in other cases, “some gave up all kinds of protection to care for those most in need.”

PAHO stressed that the “virus will continue with us” and it is necessary to provide all elements of protection and support to health personnel