Diyarbakır Medical Chamber: Covid-19 cases rapidly increasing, 155 health workers infected

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There are 155 health workers diagnosed with Covid-19 in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır, the city's medical chamber has announced.

As in the entire country, contact tracing has been restricted and the number of cases and deaths in the city is not known because the Provincial Directorate of Health does not disclose the data, according to a statement on the chamber's website.

With the easing of measures at the start of the month, Diyarbakır has also seen a rapid surge in coronavirus cases, the statement said.

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Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on June 17 that daily cases were around 100 in the city and the governor's office said on June 20 that 54 people died of Covid-19 and there were 205 hospitalized patients, including 20 patients in intensive care units and six on ventilators, the chamber noted.

It has announced the following figures on heath workers: "A rapid increase in the number of infected health workers has been observed as the disease has started to climb again. As of June 24, 2020, in Diyarbakır, the number of health workers whose Covid-19 tests were positive is 155, the number of deaths is 1 (35 physicians, 74 nurses, 23 staff, 7 anesthesiologists, 5 automation officers, 3 radiology technicians. 3 paramedics, 2 secretaries) 1 environmental health technician [deceased], 1 laboratory worker, 1 social worker)."

Need for additional intensive care units

The Provincial Health Directorate declared all hospitals in the city "pandemic hospitals" and there was no shortage of beds, the statement said, however, it added that there was a need for additional intensive care units in the university hospital.

After the directorate's decision, state hospitals have been unwilling to admit patients and referring them to private hospitals instead, according to the medical chamber.

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Two hospitals in the city conduct about 1,300 tests daily and the results could be obtained within three days, it noted, adding that the increase in cases prolonged the time to acquire results.

"Tests are conducted only on those over 50 years of age, with symptoms or chronic disease, not on all of those with a history of contact. Although an unrealistic perception of success is created by sharing positive figures and rates regarding the outbreak, the danger of the outbreak continues. For this reason, the test capacity in our province should be increased," the statement said.

"Health workers are tired"

Speaking to bianet about the report, Diyarbakır Medial Chamber Chair Mehmet Şerif Demir said that people don't care about precautionary measures as much as they did at the beginning of the pandemic, neglecting to wear masks and maintaining a physical distance.

"Of course, we cannot explain this rise only with the relief of the people, but this epidemic will not leave our lives from today to tomorrow. Therefore, there are some hygiene rules that society should pay attention to. Like using masks, not being in closed and crowded environments...

"In addition, there are duties that belong to the public authority. According to scientific data, decisions should be made with reference to the number of cases by province and should be put into practice quickly.

"The people do not testify to what happens in hospitals, it only evaluates the epidemic through the numbers.

"Also, it should not be forgotten that each case also puts health workers at great risk. We have 155 infected friends today. This number will increase as the number of cases increases. This three-month process was very tiring for the healthcare professionals, both physically and psychologically, and caused severe destruction."

"Health workers don't feel safe"

Psychologist Şiyar Güldiken, the co-chair of Health Laborers' Union (SES) Amed Branch, said that although the decisions to suspend the schools and impose curfews for the youth and the elderly were right, the Health Minister later "acted like a politician," referring to the reopening steps as of June 1.

"Not public health but economic concerns were prioritized. As a result of this decision, deaths and cases are increasing," he noted.

The increase in the cases means an increased workload for healthcare personnel, he added.

Also, the minister's promises of increased salaries for health workers makes them a target in the eyes of the people, he noted: "A nurse friend of ours tells a patient's relative to wear a mask. She explains that he was risking both himself and the healthcare professionals and that they had to work harder as the number of patients increased. The patient relative says to him, 'You get twice the salary, you will work, of course'."

"Health workers do not feel safe. Health workers are in the stage of burnout and they are exhausted." (RT/VK)