Over 200 virus-linked attacks on health workers: Red Cross

GENEVA: The Red Cross said Wednesday that more than 200 violent attacks on health workers connected with the COVID-19 crisis had been reported across more than a dozen countries since the pandemic began.

The International Committee of the Red Cross joined 12 other global medical and humanitarian organisations, representing more than 30 million medical professionals, to issue a declaration condemning growing attacks on health workers and facilities. "The sad reality is that health workers have for a long time been subject to many shocking forms of violence," the declaration said.

While hailing recent displays of support for COVID-19 responders, it lamented that "many responders are nevertheless experiencing harassment, stigmatisation and physical violence." "Some healthcare professionals and the people they were caring for have even been killed," the declaration said, pointing to at least 208 such violent incidents since the beginning of the pandemic.