Health workers with COVID-19 now 3,422 —DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) said the total number of health workers who have contracted COVID-19 has reached 3,422, as of Thursday.

Only one of them was in critical condition. As of June 29, at least 2,514 of them have recovered.

Since the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act already expired, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are working with other agencies to fund the benefits of health workers from other resources.

“Hindi tayo makakapagpatuloy kung walang basis of law because maglalabas tayo ng pera from the national government. We need basis whenever we do that,” she said in a press conference on Thursday.

“Hanggang hindi nakakapagpalabas uli ng another law for such para maging basis natin, mahihirapan kaming mapakaglabas ng amount,” she added.

The Bayanihan law, which expired on June 25, mandated financial assistance worth P100,000 for every health worker with a severe case of COVID-19 and special risk allowance for all public health workers.

On Thursday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government may tap the funds of the Office of the President to compensate concerned frontline health workers.

“Iko-confirm ko lang po within the day para po magkaroon talaga ng confirmation na huwag pong mag-alala ang mga health workers, sagot na po ng Office of the President ‘yan,” Roque said. --KBK, GMA News