3.4 Impact on Health professionals
Overall, two health care professionals involved in the management of HNC patients (a Radiation Therapist and a Radiation Oncology Resident, 51 and 33 years old, respectively) were found to be COVID-19 positive at nasal swabs. Both of them had been in contact with the patient diagnosed with COVID-19- related pneumonia. They have no comorbidities and clinical presentation of COVID-19 infection was mild in both cases (anosmia, diarrhea, fatigue and fever). No respiratory symptoms were reported and hospitalization was therefore not needed. In compliance with safety measurements, both of them were re-admitted to work after two consecutive negative nasal swabs.
Since pregnancy, has been recognized as a risk factor for developing a COVID-19 related severe acute respiratory distress syndrome19, a Radiation Oncology resident in her seventh month of pregnancy was suspended from clinical practice and was assigned research works she could manage from home.