FACT: Hundreds of Medical Workers Have Died from Coronavirus
Earlier today, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar attempted to make the case that it’s safe for kids to return to school by wrongly claiming that health care workers haven’t gotten infected with coronavirus.
AZAR says schools can safely reopen. “Health care workers don't get infected because they take appropriate precautions. They engage in social distancing, wear facial covering….This can work. You can do all of this, there's no reason schools have to be in any way any different.” pic.twitter.com/CDJmKnYnd6
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) July 7, 2020
BUT…
Kaiser Health News And The Guardian Have Identified 765 U.S. Health Care Workers Who Likely Died Of COVID-19 During The Crisis:
- “America’s health care workers are dying. In some states, medical personnel account for as many as 20% of known coronavirus cases. They tend to patients in hospitals, treating them, serving them food and cleaning their rooms. Others at risk work in nursing homes or are employed as home health aides.” [Kaiser Health News, 7/7/20]
- “‘Lost on the Frontline,’ a collaboration between KHN and The Guardian, has identified 765 such workers who likely died of COVID-19 after helping patients during the pandemic.” [Kaiser Health News, 7/7/20]
- “The tally includes doctors, nurses and paramedics, as well as crucial health care support staff such as hospital janitors, administrators and nursing home workers, who have put their own lives at risk during the pandemic to help care for others.” [Kaiser Health News, 6/6/20]
And Many Of Those Workers Were Forced To Reuse Masks Countless Times Because Of The Trump Administration’s Failure To Secure Medical Supplies.
- “In addition to tracking deaths, Lost on the Frontline reports on the challenges health care workers are facing during the pandemic. Many were forced to reuse masks countless times amid widespread equipment shortages. Others had only trash bags for protection. Some deaths have been met with employers’ silence or denials that they were infected at work.” [Kaiser Health News, 6/6/20]
For more information about health professionals who have lost their lives to COVID-19, please see KHN and The Guardian’s database, where they have profiled 133 workers.