Story By: Ernest Bio Bogore, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

A nurse is in critical condition after reportedly slitting her throat after fearing she had given the virus to her husband.

The incident was revealed during a videoconference between a psychiatrist from the Strasbourg University Hospital and a team of nurses and a journalist.

During the support-group video call, psychiatrist Pierre Vidhailet said: “We had a nurse who slit her throat. She thought she had infected her husband who was having coughing fits.”

Vidhailet, who believes the stresses of treating COVID-19 patients has led to caregivers experiencing “depression, nightmares, increased anxiety and higher alcohol use”, added: “The nurse is hospitalised in a critical condition.”

The incident was reported by journalist Jean-Francois Martin of the newspaper ‘Ouest-France’ who took part in the videoconference.

The newspaper said that other medical centres had not even been informed of the nurse’s alleged action.

According to reports, some caregivers are experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 crisis although most of them prefer to keep quiet about it.

Nathalie Prieto, a psychiatrist at Lyon University Hospital, who also spoke at the video conference, said: “They (the caregivers) are keeping quiet because the media, as well as the president, called them ‘heroes’.

“After being put on a pedestal, how can they admit their common human anguish?”

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.