Hospital employees sidelined by COVID-19 or at risk of contracting it represent "one of the great vulnerabilities of our healthcare system in an epidemic like this," an ER physician told The Washington Post.
A federal official who was not authorized to speak with the media told the Post that more than 60 infections among healthcare workers have been reported to the government, more than 12 of which are related to travel.
Liam Yore, MD, a board member of the American College of Emergency Physicians, said he believes the estimate of front-line workers unable to work is "the tip of the iceberg."
"Most ERs and healthcare systems are running at capacity in normal times," he said.
Read the full report here.
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