Situational Analysis of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers in Terengganu State of Malaysia

Abstract

Background: In Terengganu, healthcare workers (HCW) face similar risk of exposure to COVID-19 as other settings in Malaysia and globally. This study aimed to describe the current situation of COVID-19 among HCW in Terengganu state. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Terengganu state of Malaysia among healthcare workers based on retrospective record review. The inclusion criteria were HCW working in Terengganu’s public healthcare facilities with laboratory reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed positive test for COVID-19 and notified to Terengganu State Health Department from 1st March 2020 until 30th September 2021. Descriptive statistics were employed for statistical analysis. Result: As of 30th September 2021, there were 919 HCW infected with COVID-19. The mean (±SD) of samples’ age and RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) value was 36 (±7) and 24.87 (±7.86), respectively. Majority of infected HCW in Terengganu were female (74.5%), from job category of nurses (38.7%) followed by medical doctors (19.6%), not directly involved in COVID-19 cases management (72.3%), symptomatic (61.2%), diagnosed as Category 2 COVID-19 (52.4%) followed by Category 1 COVID-19 (47.2%), and had no comorbidity (91.0%). Conclusion: COVID-19 commonly involved personnel related to clinical work (doctors and nurses). Screening and diagnosis of COVID-19 among HCW was early as depicted by relatively low mean RT-PCR CT value and therefore averted progression to severe COVID-19 stages (Category 4 and Category 5).