A caregiver in a Covid unit in Spain, October 6, 2020. -

Manu Fernandez / AP / SIPA

Caregivers are less affected than before by the Covid, even in countries where the pandemic continues to rage.

This is what the World Health Organization observes, which notes "a substantial drop in infections (among nursing staff) since the start of the epidemic", on the basis of data collected from 83 states.

Where the WHO previously mentioned a rate of 14% of caregivers infected, this percentage is now closer to the proportion of the general population: less than 3% in many countries, less in poor countries.

The proportion of caregivers among newly infected people "is constantly declining," said Anne Perrocheau, a WHO epidemiologist, during a virtual press conference.

Better protected, more informed caregivers

The explosion of Covid-19 cases among healthcare workers at the start of the epidemic was explained by the lack of protective equipment around the world, including in the richest countries.

Images of caregivers protecting themselves with trash bags, for lack of anything better, have been around the world.

The lack of training to properly use these protections also weighed in the balance.

Conversely, the supply is now better in most countries and caregivers have had time to train.

For Benedetta Allegranzi, WHO technical manager, a better understanding of and adherence to prevention methods, such as "wearing a mask all the time or a respirator as appropriate, washing your hands frequently and keeping your distance as much as possible », Also contribute to the decrease in the number of infections.

The Covid-19 has killed more than 1.1 million people, according to official figures.

In mid-September, the WHO launched a charter to better protect healthcare workers in the face of the gravity of the situation.

The International Council of Nurses for its part estimated the death toll at several thousand, although the official figure for 44 countries was only 1,097 in mid-August.

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