10 Of 44 Coronavirus Cases In Philadelphia Are Healthcare Workers

PHILADELPHIA — Officials in Philadelphia Thursday said the city now has 44 cases of the new coronavirus and that nearly a quarter of those cases are people who work in healthcare.

During the daily update on the coronavirus, known as COVID-19, Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas said 10 of the 44 people with the virus are healthcare workers.

Eight of the 44 cases have led to hospitalization.

Farley said healthcare workers are now the most at risk population for infection, followed by people 60 and older and those with chronic illnesses.

Farley broke down the case count by age groups:

• 23 cases are in people 20 to 39;
• 13 are in people 40 to 59;
• and six are in people 60 and up.

Health Department staff are working with 160 people who have been exposed to people with this infection to monitor for symptoms.

"We want to preserve our healthcare system for the percentage of people who actually need it," Farley said. "If you have symptoms but are young and healthy, and not having difficulty breathing, you don’t need a test right now. Stay home and rest, keep away from others and drink fluids. But don’t go to the emergency department. We want to save that capacity so that the people who need emergency care can receive it."

The city is working with state and federal officials to set up a testing site near the stadiums in South Philadelphia. The site could open as early as Friday afternoon and serve to test mainly healthcare workers who show symptoms of the virus, which are a dry cough and fever.

Fourteen testing sites are already up and running in the city, with another five expected to open next week. The sites have criteria for who will be tested. Farley said tests should be reserved for high risk population as tests are still limited.

Farley said New York City has seen drastic increases in the number of cases over the last few days and said that could happen across the Philadelphia region as well.

"This is about to get real,"he said after saying a rapid spread of the virus is likely. "Stay at home. It's safest to assume everyone either has it or may be incubating it."

Anyone who is experiencing symptoms should contact their healthcare provider and should not go to emergency rooms for treatment.

Editor's note: Due to incorrect information provided by the Philadelphia Health Department Thursday, Patch reported the wrong number of healthcare workers infected with COVID-19.