![]() On the other hand, even after the outbreak, symptoms, including depression, anxiety, traumatic stress, avoidance, and burnout were reported. A study by assessing 1257 health workers treated SARS-infected patients found that given the fast dissemination of infection in the early stage of the epidemic, feeling of uncertainty, the threat to life, and significant vulnerability characterized by somatic and cognitive symptoms of anxiety were prevalent. Research conducted on other infectious diseases, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Ebola virus, revealed that a considerable number of HCWs suffer from significant emotional distress during the outbreak. Working in these situations develops the risk of various psychological and mental illnesses as well as physical and emotional distress among medical staff. In the initial phase of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, 29% of all hospitalized patients were HCWs. Reports indicated that several HCWs became infected with SARS-CoV-2 when they were in close contact with infected patients. On the other hand, like other individuals, they are exposed to a considerable amount of fake news and rumors all of which increase their anxiety. ![]() They are at the risk of being infected when treating ill patients. In these situations, it is expected of HCWs to work long hours while they are under overwhelming pressure. Constant increasing of infected cases, a rise in the rate of deaths, lack of any specific medicine or vaccine, extensive media coverage, massive workload, lack of personal protective equipment, and feelings of inadequate support all can contribute to the mental burden of these health care staff. Major epidemic outbreaks pose an increasing demand for healthcare workers. By April 26th, 2020, four months after outbreak, more than 2,800,000 confirmed cases and almost 200,000 deaths due to SARS-CoV-2 have been reported. World health organization has declared COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international concern. A novel coronavirus, named SARS-CoV2, emerging from Wuhan, China, has led to a fast spread outbreak of COVID-19 pneumonia.
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