493 more health workers catch COVID-19, total now at 6,499

The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday reported that 493 more health workers contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) over the past week, raising the total to 6,499 as of August 15.

In its daily COVID-19 report, the DOH said total recoveries among health workers climbed to 5,759 after 693 more recovered from the respiratory disease, while the death toll remained at 39.

The other 701 medical workers are active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine.

The five medical professions with the highest number of COVID-19 cases are nurses with 2,269 infections, doctors with 1,368, nursing assistants with 454, medical technologists with 282, and midwives with 140 cases.

Over 500 other non-medical personnel such as utility workers, security guards, and administrative staff were also included in the tally.

The Philippines has logged 189,601 COVID-19 cases with 131,367 recoveries and 2,998 deaths as of Sunday afternoon. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News