After noticing the sudden rise in Covid-19 infections among medical health workers, the Department of Health has decided to conduct hospital –level investigations to trace the sources of virus among hospital staff.
To make matters worse, the health workers on Friday waited patiently to be treated in government-run quarantine facilities but were reportedly eventually turned away due to the lack of vacancies in the centers
BAFFLED by a sudden spike in Covid-19 infections among medical frontline workers in various areas of the country especially in Metro Manila, the Department of Health (DOH) has decided to look inside, and conduct intra- hospital level investigations to trace the sources of infections and contain further spread of the virus.
The DOH said that the move came after reports indicated that a growing number of healthcare workers are contracting the disease.
Earlier, the Philippines recorded 15,310 new COVID-19 cases on Good Friday, a new record-high despite the re-imposition of a lockdown in the National Capital Region and nearby four provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Bulacan.
"Individual hospital infection control units have started hospital-level investigations," the DOH statement said.
"Some DOH-retained hospitals have suspended elective surgeries and outpatient department (OPD) operations to ensure that the most critical services continue while HCWs recover from COVID-19," it added.
This, as Philippine Orthopedic Center reported that 143 of its staff had tested positive for Covid-19.
To make matters worse, the health workers on Friday waited patiently to be treated in government-run quarantine facilities but were reportedly eventually turned away due to the lack of vacancies in the centers.
Senior nurse Sean Herbert Velchez said the healthcare workers opted to look for available rooms at government-run quarantine centers as their hospital dormitory could only serve 30 individuals undergoing isolation.
Velchez said some of the ill staff were living in dormitories while others were living with their relatives.
“Marami pa rin ngang nagpapadala ng feelers para masundo sila or mahanapan sila ng isolation facility dahil nga po hindi sila talaga makakapag stay sa bahay,” he said.
The DOH reported that despite the rising cases of infections among medical workers, all 17 DOH-retained hospitals in Metro Manila remain operational.
However, there were reports that several health facilities were force to suspend operations due to increasing numbers of healthcare workers’ infections.
The agency said it is also providing support for healthcare workers "by facilitating hospital or isolation facility admission."
It added it continues to augment hospital resources by downloading funds to the hospitals for hiring of additional personnel, purchase of medicines, and referral of patients to the appropriate facility.
"The public is also called on to utilize teleconsultations for non-urgent medical needs to avoid overcrowding in hospitals and ensure that all critical patient needs are attended to," the agency stressed.
Tags: #DOH, #Covid-19, #MedicalWorkers, #SpikeinInfections