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Nazan Özcan has spoken to cleaning workers, nurses, medical doctors and unionists for Kısa Dalga (Shortwave) podcast amid novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, which has so far claimed 131 lives in Turkey.
Health workers have shared their problems and concerns in the podcast of "Health Workers Speak Out: I Don't Want to Die While Keeping Alive", as part of "Coronavirus Diary" series prepared by Özcan.
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They have told Özcan briefly the following:
'Majority of Health Workers Say They Cannot Access Masks and Gloves'On March 24, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) shared a preliminary report on a self-report-based online survey that it conducted with 1,820 health workers from 74 of 81 provinces in Turkey. The survey manifested that health workers were still having difficulties in accessing personal protective equipments and materials while treating suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases. That is, while 78 percent of the participants said that they had difficulties in accessing N5 masks, 74 percent said that they had difficulty in accessing face shields or glasses, 60 percent medical masks and 38 percent said that they had difficulties in accessing gloves. The conclusion part of the survey has underlined that the preliminary findings of the survey have indicated a serious shortage and problems in terms of health workers' personal protective equipments and working conditions. It has been further emphasized that these conditions pose a risk in terms of occupational illnesses and homicides while they are also causing anxiety and fear in healthcare workers. |
About the novel coronavirusWhat is a coronavirus? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease Covid-19. What is Covid-19? Covid-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. How does Covid-19 spread? People can catch Covid-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with Covid-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch Covid-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Studies to date suggest that the virus is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air. Source: World Health Organization |
(AÖ/SD)