Healthcare workers' infections jump from 5,000 to 6,000 in over two weeks

Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in coronavirus infections amongst healthcare workers, growing to over 6,000 nationwide from 5,000, according to the ministry of national health services.

As per the ministry’s July 10 data, seen by Geo.tv, 6,025 healthcare providers have been sickened by the deadly virus. Of those ill, upwards to 61% are doctors.

The number has shot up by a thousand in just two weeks, rising from 5,000 to 6,000 infected health professionals.

Healthcare workers are on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak in the country and have in the recent past complained of an influx of patients at public hospitals and lack of protective gear to shield against the virus.

Medical workers are also at risk of contracting the infection due to being exposed to more viral particles.

The majority of medics who tested positive to date are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,986, followed by Sindh, 1,752, Punjab, 1,100, Islamabad, 483, Balochistan, 451, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 139 and Gilgit-Baltistan, 114.

It is, however, unclear how accurate the tally is of the current situation in hospitals as in Punjab, healthcare providers have not been tested since July 4, according to official documents from the province.

To date, 69 healthcare providers have also died from the disease, of which majority, 26, have died in Sindh alone.