The Downfall Of Medical Workers In Mexico In Fighting COVID-19

JAKARTA - Not only the elderly are vulnerable to contracting the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical personnel, who are the last bastion, have the same risk. Not infrequently, those who daily come into direct contact with COVID-19 patients become susceptible to contracting the virus, as happened in Mexico.

On Wednesday, March 7, Mexican authorities testified that 60 medical personnel at two hospitals located outside Mexico City and the western state of Baja California Sur have recently tested positive for COVID-19. This is clearly a deep sorrow for medical workers around the world.

Moreover, at a public hospital in Cabo San Lucas, a popular resort town in Baja California Sur, 42 medical personnel were infected, including doctors, nurses and administrative staff.

As reported by Reuters, the head of Mexico's social security agency (IMSS), Zoe Robledo, said COVID-19 was first detected at a hospital in Tlanepantla de Baz, in the Mexican state just outside the capital, 20 doctors tested positive there on March 10. .

He also revealed that the infection did not even come from within health facilities, but when traced three separate cases, one patient and two doctors who had no contact with each other.

Through his statement, the positive number of COVID-19 in Tlanepantla de Baz is not similar to what happened in the city of Monclova in the northern state of Coahuila, where around 45 medical personnel have tested positive for the virus.

"Compared to Monclova, where there is clear evidence that there is transmission from within the hospital, it is a different case. Because the epidemiological studies (for the Tlanepantla de Baz hospital), which took place a few weeks ago, show that the transmission of COVID-19 is comes from outside, "said Zoe Robledo.

Nurses are at the frontline of battling pandemics like # COVID19.On #WorldHealthDay and every day, let's show our gratitude by doing our part and following public health advice from WHO and national health authorities: https://t.co/bLIh31l66x#SupportNursesAndMidwives pic.twitter.com/s3LyWBWHRf

- World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 7, 2020

Due to the increasing number of medical personnel who have been infected, two weeks ago, other medical personnel, consisting of workers at the Tlanepantla hospital, held a protest outside the building aimed at requesting more medical equipment to fight COVID-19.

To that end, the Mexican government is asked to be more serious in fighting the virus, especially in terms of keeping struggling medical personnel working safely.

Now, the total COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico itself has currently produced a positive number of 3,181 infected cases, and with 174 deaths.