Health workers around the world face shortage of protective gear

LONDON/MADRID: Britain on Saturday reported its first coronavirus-related death of a doctor, raising concerns about the dangers that health workers on the front lines are facing.

Adil El Tayar, 63, an NHS organ transplant specialist, died at West Middlesex university hospital in London on Wednesday, The Guardian reported.

Health workers around the world have reported a shortage of medical equipment. In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) is already grappling with staff shortages.

Hospital bosses and doctors on Thursday warned of being swamped by a “tsunami” of Covid-19 patients in London, as Britain braced for a peak in cases and the government faced calls to urgently provide specialist kit for front line health workers.

Britain isn’t alone. Hospitals around the world are scrambling to avoid the dire scenario playing out in Italy. Forty-one health workers in Italy have died from the disease since the outbreak began.

Globally, the virus has infected more than 5,000 doctors, nurses, technicians, ambulance staff and other medical personnel.

In Spain, health workers accounted for nearly 14% of Spain’s total reported coronavirus cases as of last Tuesday. Some 5,400 health care workers have been diagnosed with the virus.

In New York City, hospital workers are increasingly concerned about the ravages of the illness in their own ranks, and that the lack of testing and protective gear is making it not a matter of if they get it, but when.