New stats show healthcare workers do not have higher COVID-19 death rate

Dental practitioners and dental nurses are among the riskiest roles in relation to COVID-19 exposure, new government statistics revealHealthcare workers do not have higher rates of COVID-19 deaths when compared to the general population, new statistics reveal. 

New analysis from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)  found that healthcare workers – including dental nurses and dental practitioners – do not have higher rates of COVID-19 deaths when compared to those of the same age and sex outside of the sector.

Looking into coronavirus-related deaths up to and including 20 April, the report states: ‘Healthcare workers, including those with jobs such as doctors and nurses, were not found to have higher rates of death involving COVID-19 when compared with the rate among those whose death involved COVID-19 of the same age and sex in the general population.’

The data also shows that dental nurses have the highest level of potential exposure to disease out of the occupations evaluated.

Dental practitioners came in sixth, with dental technicians closely following at number eight on the list.

The top 10 occupations with the highest potential exposure to COVID-19 are:

  1. Dental nurses
  2. Nurses
  3. Medical practitioners
  4. Houseparents and residential wardens
  5. Care escorts
  6. Dental practitioners
  7. Medical radiographers
  8. Medical and dental technicians
  9. Veterinarians
  10. Midwives

Clear correlation

The statistics, which were released yesterday (11 May), were unveiled as part of a report into how the virus is spreading throughout the UK.

Additionally, dental nurses and dental practitioners take the top spots for the occupations with the closest proximity to others – however the report shows they are more likely to be using PPE during this time.

The report states: ‘There is a clear correlation between exposure to disease, and physical proximity to others across all occupations.

‘Healthcare workers such as nurses and dental practitioners unsurprisingly both involve being exposed to disease on a daily basis, and they require close contact with others, though during the pandemic they are more likely to be using PPE.’


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