Epidemiologists of a British observational study conclude that people in health care professions, but also in professions from the social sector, have a particularly high risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid-19 and even dying. A team of scientists from the University of Glasgow observed 120,000 people between the ages of 49 and 64 for this very purpose. They found that the risk of suffering from severe symptoms, possibly even resulting in death, is increased sevenfold in Great Britain. For their analysis, the epidemiology experts compared Covid-19 patients and those who died from it from specific occupational groups, including nine percent from the healthcare sector and 11 percent from the social and educational sectors. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recently reported that 14 percent of all Corona infections are among people in healthcare professions such as doctors, pharmacists, nurses, paramedics, etc., even though they only account for about three percent of the population. The WHO findings are in line with those of the British. Moreover, women are particularly affected because the majority of them work in health professions. Black people and Asians, many of whom work as medical personnel, are also disproportionately represented among those who fall ill or die. Their risk is even increased eightfold in essential occupations, compared to white people in the same occupational groups. The authors of the British observational study point out, however, that causation was not taken into account for the study, consequently, no statements can be made about this. However, the analysis shows the importance of providing and wearing appropriate protective clothing to avoid contracting coronavirus in healthcare settings. This also includes other health and safety measures. Due to the lack of a central reporting register in Germany, it is not known exactly how many severe corona cases can be attributed to German healthcare professions. However, the infection incidence of the last few months indicates that medical personnel in this country also show severe symptoms with above-average frequency. Although the provision of protective clothing has improved, stress, staff shortages and insufficient breaks also harm people in healthcare professions in Germany, where the infection is then an additional significant stress factor for the body of those affected.
Source: apotheken-umschau.de