Relatively few staff sick with COVID-like sx?

[CCRNCHPN]

Please forgive the naivete of my question. I am humbly seeking to understand why the majority of those in direct patient care aren't sick with COVID-19 considering inadequate PPE (surgical masks as opposed to N95s or PAPRs, unprecedented reuse of masks, etc.), all the unprotected and underprotected exposure in healthcare settings. I mourn the losses and struggles that have ensued, am thankful that many are able to carry on, but here outside of a hot zone, there still aren't any instances of COVID-19 among hospital HCWs caring for suspected and confirmed COVID inpatients. How are your colleagues faring?

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

NPR: April 13, 2020

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

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

CDC: April 17,2020

Characteristics of Health Care Personnel with COVID-19 — United States, February 12–April 9, 2020

https://www.CDC.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6915e6.htm

Quote

Of 9,282 U.S. COVID-19 cases reported among HCP, median age was 42 years, and 73% were female, reflecting these distributions among the HCP workforce. HCP patients reported contact with COVID-19 patients in health care, household, and community settings. Most HCP patients were not hospitalized; however, severe outcomes, including death, were reported among all age groups....

...Among HCP patients with data on health care, household, and community exposures, 780 (55%) reported contact with a COVID-19 patient only in health care settings....

...Among HCP patients with data available on age and health outcomes, 6,760 (90%) were not hospitalized, 723 (8%–10%) were hospitalized, 184 (2%–5%) were admitted to an ICU, and 27 (0.3%–0.6%) died (Table 2). Although only 6% of HCP patients were aged ≥65 years, 10 (37%) deaths occurred among persons in this age group....

Transmission of COVID-19 to Health Care Personnel ... - CDC