307 CASES IN WESTERN VISAYAS: Two more doctors positive for COVID-19

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

 

Two more medical doctors of St. Paul’s Hospital tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), bringing the total infected physicians of the hospital to eight, according to the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH-CHD 6).

In a press conference on Monday, Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, head of the infectious Disease Unit, confirmed that eight physicians of the St. Paul’s Hospital have contracted Covid-19.

“We have recorded seven health workers in Region 6 who were positive for COVID-19, today, June 29, 2020. Two of them are physicians from St. Paul’s Hospital and five health workers from Alimodian town in Iloilo province,” she said.

St. Paul’s Hospital has been under lockdown since Sunday evening by the regional Inter-Agency Task Force after six of its medical doctors were found positive for COVID-19.

According to Juanico, it was agreed that services in the hospital will be temporarily suspended until disinfection/decontamination has been carried out and identified close contacts test negative in the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

St. Paul’s Hospital also released directives on the temporary suspension of its emergency room and outpatient department operations.

The shifting of its staff was also temporarily halted to give way for disinfection and decontamination.

“Continuation of other essential services all proceed provided infection prevention control (IPC) measures are in place. Contact tracing was initiated within and outside the premises of the hospital,” Juanico said.

A team from the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has been deployed to secure the area.

As of Monday, the health department said 144 of the close contacts of the eight COVID-19 positive physicians were swabbed for RT-PCR testing.

“Upon receipt of the information by the Iloilo City Health Office and St. Paul’s Hospital, the health facility instituted its contact tracing among those who were possibly exposed to the six cases. Infection control measures are being put in place by the institution to mitigate the spread of the virus in the facility.”

Mayor Jerry Treñas said he received reports that the doctors were infected after they responded to a patient from Capiz who suffered from a vehicular accident and manifested signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

“Ang initial report may isa ka pasyente halin sa Capiz na involved sa isa ka vehicular accident and ginoperahan. Gaduda sila nga may symptoms so ginkuhaan rapid test and nag-positive. Ang mga doctors ginsubject sa rapid test and duha sa ila nagpositive and were immediately isolated. Late na nagwa ang RT-PCR test and it came out as positive for Covid-19,” he said on Monday.

Following the incident, Treñas said he already ordered the contact tracing on the affected barangays where the doctors are staying.
The city government will also be distributing rapid antibody testing kits to all the ten hospitals in the city.

“Padal-an ta sang rapid test because ang aton testing laboratory masyado ka dugay eight to ten days. It’s not an ideal turn-around time, we have to deal with the protocols. So with the rapid test at least it will give us an idea on the persons nga ginatest naton,” the mayor said.

Meanwhile, the health department has strongly recommended intensified contact tracing including those who visited the hospital from June 23-28.

Those who were possibly exposed to the Covid-19 positive physicians should undergo strict home quarantine and isolation.

 

HIGHEST IN A DAY

In DOH-6’s Case Bulletin No.95, Region 6 again posted its highest single-day surge in COVID-19 cases with 33 new cases.

Iloilo province recorded 20 new cases with 13 indigenous cases from the town of Alimodian; one indigenous case from Dumangas town; one locally stranded individual from Carles town and four LSIs from Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

Iloilo City recorded six new cases involving two repatriated Overseas Filipino Worker (OFWs) from Molo district and Jaro district; one LSI from Jaro district; and three indigenous cases from City Proper district, Mandurriao district, and Lapuz district.

Negros Occidental has five new cases – four LSIs from Sagay City, Murcia, Binalbagan, Hinobaan, and one OFW repatriate from Valladolid.

The town of Kalibo, Aklan also recorded a new case involving a 23-year-old female LSI.

Two OFW repatriates – a 34-year-old male from Bacolod City and a 51-year-old male from Nueva Valencia, Guimaras – also tested positive for COVID-19.

COVID-19 cases in the region already breached the 300-mark with 307 total cases (170 active cases, 126 recoveries, and 11 deaths).