key: cord-1051106-7rbgts93 authors: Zhu, Shichao; Zong, Zhiyong title: Why did so few healthcare workers in China get COVID-19 infection date: 2020-08-18 journal: QJM DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcaa254 sha: 3a4bf3df85051041ecb03203fec962c299b21e0c doc_id: 1051106 cord_uid: 7rbgts93 nan Corona virus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a global pandemic. 1 Healthcare workers (HCWs) are facing high risks of being infected by SARS-CoV-2 in the fighting with COVID-19. 2 In the early days (January and February) of the pandemic, 3 The shortage was overcome with the arrival of new PPE. Third, we have adopted a higher standard of protection in China, compared with the World Health Organization guidelines against COVID-19. 5 The main difference is that we used fluid-resistant protective clothing (coverall) with long sleeve and conjoined cap rather than uncapped isolation garment, as well as In summary, coordinated efforts of the whole society, governments, healthcare institutions, infection control teams and HCWs on their own are able to largely minimize the exposure risks of HCWs. We believe that the well-accepted universal mask wearing and the unprecedently stringent lockdown are major drivers to reduce the number of HCWs to acquire COVID-19 in China. Covid-19: WHO declares pandemic because of "alarming levels" of spread, severity, and inaction COVID-19: protecting health-care workers National Health and Family Planning Commission PRC. Statistical bulletin of health development in China in 2019 Graded personal protection scheme for preventing medical staff from 2019-novel coronavirus infection in West China hospital Infection prevention and control during health care when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected A precision medicine approach to managing 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia COVID-19 control in China during mass population movements at New Year The authors declare that they have no competing interests.