At Least 9,000 U.S. Health Care Workers Sickened With COVID-19, CDC Data Shows

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

Nearly 9,300 U.S. health care workers contracted COVID-19, and 27 have died. A majority of those who tested positive (55%) think they were exposed while at work.

Preliminary data on infections among frontline health workers:

• Nearly three-quarters are women
• More than a third had some underlying health condition
• The median age is 42
• 8% of those who tested positive didn't have symptom
• 90% didn't have to be hospitalized
• As many as 5% did require intensive care
• 1/3 of the health care workers who died were over 65 years old

Quote

"This data is really helpful because it's giving us those first indicators of health care worker risks and exposures," says Dr. Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist at a large health system in Phoenix. "But ultimately we need to be collecting more on this because we have to understand the failures, so we can correct them in the future."

To read the full article, go to:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/15/834920016/at-least-9-000-u-s-health-care-workers-sickened-with-covid-19-CDC-data-shows

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

2 hours ago, tnbutterfly - Mary said:

Preliminary data on infections among frontline health workers:

• Nearly three-quarters are women
• More than a third had some underlying health condition
• The median age is 42
• 8% of those who tested positive didn't have symptom
• 90% didn't have to be hospitalized
• As many as 5% did require intensive care
• 1/3 of the health care workers who died were over 65 years old

Good to know,especially when avocado for brains want everything reopened.

[guest1146168]

Given that the average age of U.S. Registered Nurse was about 50, with the median being around 43, at least last I looked, this is a pretty big deal right? I'd guess the median age of established critical care nurses may be higher yet but don't have that information.

[Serhilda, ADN, RN]

Even if we ignore the morality rating here, 10% requiring hospitalization is significant. The hospital bills alone would be devastating and you know workman's comp won't cover this.

[BSN-to-MSN, ADN, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the info! Not surprised. This sad, but also expected.

The economy needs to be reopened, otherwise there will be no money to buy more TP. Those who want to extend their quarantine or stay at home are welcome to do so at their own expense.

[toomuchbaloney]

2 minutes ago, RN-to- BSN said:

Thanks for the info! Not surprised. This sad, but also expected.

The economy needs to be reopened, otherwise there will be no money to buy more TP. Those who want to extend their quarantine or stay at home are welcome to do so at their own expense.

Line yourself and your loved ones up...there are lots of open positions in essential services in all of the hard hit cities that you can volunteer or apply for as a health professional.

The rest of us will follow the science and common sense mitigation recommendations.

[BSN-to-MSN, ADN, BSN, RN]

12 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

Line yourself and your loved ones up...there are lots of open positions in essential services in all of the hard hit cities that you can volunteer or apply for as a health professional.

The rest of us will follow the science and common sense mitigation recommendations.

No need to line up - we are currently employed. My loved ones are not of YOUR concern, let's just keep it to you and me.

I would tell you that the president follows the science and common sense when he plans to re-open economy- hopefully may 1st - but you will not believe me anyway. You call him stupid, I know.

Your right to do so.

[toomuchbaloney]

4 minutes ago, RN-to- BSN said:

No need to line up - we are currently employed. My loved ones are not of YOUR concern, let's just keep it to you and me.

I would tell you that the president follows the science and common sense when he plans to re-open economy- hopefully may 1st - but you will not believe me anyway. You call him stupid, I know.

Your right to do so.

Of course you could tell me that the president follows his common sense guidelines, but there is lots of evidence that he doesn't practice social distancing himself, that he won't wear a mask, and he encouraged his political followers to "liberate" several states from following his recommendations.

As a health professional, your loved ones are my concern, whether you prefer that to be true or not.

But just between you and me, where does it leave us if most of the available evidence demonstrates something that we don't want to believe?

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

2 hours ago, RN-to- BSN said:

No need to line up - we are currently employed. My loved ones are not of YOUR concern, let's just keep it to you and me.

I know this wasn't directed to me personally, but I feel the need to respond anyway. Why leave your loved ones out? You're the one saying we need to reopen, so your loved ones are the same as everyone else's loved ones. It's my desire that everyone is protected, not just my own people.