Estimating and recognizing the sacrifice of at least 600 nurses who went missing in 30 countries from covid-19, promotes the International Nursing Council. The ICN (International Council of Nurses) represents 130 national associations and more than 20 million registered nurses.
"In the last two months we have seen the number of deaths of nurses worldwide as a result of corona increase from 100 to over 600 now and we believe that there are around 450.000 people worldwide who may be infected with the virus. ", Said Howard Katon, CEO of ICN, speaking on Reuters television.
The cost of the pandemic among health professionals is still undetermined and they only estimate it. But it is said that 7% of serious sars-cov-2 cases that cause the disease covid-19, were until today Health workers, doctors and nurses. In absolute numbers, it is estimated that of the six million reported cases worldwide, about 450.000 were health care workers who contracted the disease while caring for their patients.
However, the rate of infection of these professionals varies from country to country: It starts at 1% in Singapore and exceeds 30% in Ireland, Mr Katon said. While Spain and Germany recorded low numbers of casualties among health workers despite the large outbreaks, he added.
"Why are mortality rates higher among nurses in some Latin American countries?" asked the ICN CEO in an interview. "Why do some countries record a disproportionately high number of deaths among blacks, Asian health workers (HCNs) belonging to national minorities?" This is an issue that the Philippine Nurses Association has raised directly with the ICN regarding Philippine healthcare workers in the UK, "he said.
Honorary award in Spain
Spanish health workers received the Asturias de la Concorde Princess Award yesterday for the "heroic spirit of solidarity" they showed, risking their lives during the battle against the new corona.
The jury congratulated the thousands of people who "in public and private health facilities and other services, were in direct contact with patients affected by Covid-19"on the front lines of the fight against this disease," they said.
The Asturias Princess Award has been given to people or institutions since 1981 in various fields, such as the arts, sciences or sports.
Source: YgeiaWatch