COVID-19: protecting health-care workers - Lancet

Bron: https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2820%2930644-9

Key messages

• 3300 health-care workers have been infected in China as of early March
• By the end of February at least 22 had died
• In Italy, 20% of responding health-workers were infected, and some have died
• As the pandemic accelerates, access to personal protective equipment (PPE) is a key concern
• PPE shortages have been described in the most affected facilities
• In the global response, the safety of health-care workers must be ensured. Adequate provision of PPE is just the first step. Other practical measures must be considered, including cancelling non-essentials events to prioritize resources
• Presently, health-care workers are every country’s most valuable resource