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File photo Shutterstock/Juice Flair

88% of healthcare workers with Covid-19 got the virus at work

The INMO wants Covid-19 to be classed as a personal injury under health and safety legislation.

Updated 7.21pm

THE VAST MAJORITY of healthcare workers with Covid-19 contracted the virus while at work, according to new figures.

Of the 8,018 healthcare workers reported to have the virus as of 30 May, excluding cases which are unknown or under investigation:

  • 88% got the virus in a healthcare setting as staff
  • 4% got the virus from contact with a confirmed case
  • 3% got the virus from travel
  • 3% got the virus from community transmission
  • 1% got the virus from a healthcare setting as patients

The figures were provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) to the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (INMO).

Of the 8,018 cases, 2,551 (32%) were under investigation without a known source of transmission.

Overall, healthcare workers make up a third of all positive Covid-19 cases in Ireland. Nurses make up a third of those – the largest single group of workers infected.

As of 30 May, seven healthcare workers have died from the virus, 1,515 (19%) have recovered, and 4,823 are still ill (60%). About 20% of cases have a currently unknown status.

The INMO said, following a meeting this week with Minister for Health Simon Harris, it has received a commitment that these figures will be published weekly.

Personal injury 

To combat the high rate of infection among healthcare workers, the INMO is calling for three policy changes:

  • Amend regulations to class Covid-19 as a personal injury under health and safety legislation
  • Facilitate healthcare workers who come into unprotected close contact with Covid-19 to self-isolate for 14 days, without exemptions
  • All healthcare workers – not just those in nursing homes or clusters – be provided with regular Covid-19 testing

Speaking today, INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said that one in three Covid-19 cases in Ireland are healthcare workers and one in 10 are nurses.

“These figures show the vast majority have caught the virus at work.

“This figure cannot simply be accepted as normal. We need to tighten procedures and test more to ensure that frontline staff don’t get the virus they are fighting. This isn’t just about PPE, it’s about policy too,” Ní Sheaghdha stated. 

In response to the INMO’s statement, the Department of Health said: “The Minister for Health and his Department have had constructive engagement with unions on this topic and strongly acknowledge the unique work of healthcare workers in meeting the challenges of COVID-19. 

“The protection of healthcare workers remains a top priority of the Department of Health during this emergency.

“Following the meetings between the Minister and unions it was agreed that a weekly report on healthcare workers would be made available by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

“As more information becomes available on the transmission of COVID-19, the Department of Health will continue to review and, where necessary, amend policies that are currently in place to deal with this evolving public health emergency.”

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23 Comments
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    Mute mary conneely
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    Jul 3rd 2015, 5:13 PM

    And if Shannon are cute they will give them an hour in duty free while they are waiting

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    Mute Mary Cullinane
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    Jul 3rd 2015, 4:58 PM

    Nightmare stuff for the passengers at the time I’d say. Glad all is well anyway & better be safe than sorry.

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    Mute Craig Barry
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    Jul 3rd 2015, 5:41 PM

    This is becoming almost a weekly occurrence – so many diversions as of late..

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    Mute Mick Rooney (TIPM)
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    Jul 3rd 2015, 6:22 PM

    … or just being reported more in the news, Craig.

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    Mute Mark Collins
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    Jul 3rd 2015, 6:39 PM

    Been working in shannon since 2006 and in my opinion that is the only difference it is making the news when before it didn’t

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    Mute Mick Rooney (TIPM)
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    Jul 3rd 2015, 7:05 PM

    With 3000+ aircraft in the air at any given time you can be sure that a handful of pilots are dealing with issues from unruly passengers, to ill passengers, poor weather, tech issues, faulty cockpit alerts; all of which can lead to a diversion or declared emergency. I made the point on a separate thread RE the 787 diversion to Shannon this week, that if every news agency were to report every aviation incident then there would be little space left for other local and international news.

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    Mute Tom
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    Jul 4th 2015, 2:35 AM

    Well 787′s were a bit flammable for a while there!
    Hopefully that’s all sorted by now.

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    Mute Scott Crossfield
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    Jul 3rd 2015, 8:10 PM

    Plane is just out of retirement to cover for the one damaged in the hailstorms

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    Mute Tom
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    Jul 4th 2015, 2:35 AM

    The incident over china?
    Wonder how long it will take them to repair that plane.

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    Mute AN other
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    Jul 3rd 2015, 6:10 PM

    Maybe they’ll get pre-clearance now that they’re taking off from shannon directly to the states

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Jul 3rd 2015, 8:28 PM

    Delta seem to be a great airline

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