CDC reports on health care worker COVID-19 cases

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday reported an estimated 9,282 confirmed COVID-19 cases in U.S. health care workers between Feb. 12 and April 9, representing 19% of U.S. cases for which occupational status was available. Among cases reporting age, 38% had an underlying health condition, 8-10% were hospitalized and 0.3-0.6% died. The median age was 42 and 73% were female, likely reflecting the workforce distribution, CDC said. Among 121 health care workers in Solano County, Calif., exposed to a patient with unrecognized COVID-19, three tested positive for the virus, all of whom had unprotected patient contact, according to a separate CDC report. To protect health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, health care facilities should continue to follow CDC, state and local infection control and guidance for personal protective equipment, the authors said.