Hospital ward shut down as patient contracts COVID-19

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

A ward of Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao, Iloilo City was locked down after a patient tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Department of Health-Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH-CHD-6) confirmed on July 3, 2020 that the WVMC patient was one of the latest confirmed cases in the region.

The patient (WV Patient No. 360), a 72-year-old male from Igbaras town, was originally managed as a cardiac case upon admission to WVMC on June 25, 2020.

WVMC chief pathologist Dr. Stephanie Abello said the patient underwent COVID-19 testing on July 1 as part of his coronary bypass.

“Since it was contemplated that he could undergo angiogram or coronary heart bypass, he was worked upon for clearance, part of which is COVID-19 [testing], since the procedure is highly invasive and generate aerosol. Testing was done on July 1 and the result turned out positive,” Abello said.

The patient was transferred to the hospital’s COVID-19 ward for closer monitoring and proper quarantine.

Abello said disinfection and contact tracing measures are now being undertaken and the ward were the patient was originally admitted will be reopened after the procedures have been finished.

“This resulted to a lot of contacts, although they were low-risk but still, we cannot compromise safety, so we contact-traced those who attended to the patient and the hospital is working on it. From a distance, there was another patient who was next to him, but just to be sure, the portion of the ward was closed down for decontamination and for clearance so that other patients could not be infected. After contact tracing, we will reopen that part,” she added.

Meanwhile, DOH-CHD-6 reported a total of 12 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, out of 664 tests released by the WVMC Subnational Laboratory in Iloilo City and the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital Molecular Laboratory in Silay City.

Apart from the WVMC patient, three other local cases were reported:

– 47-year-old male from Murcia, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 354), a first responder;

– 37-year-old female from Lapuz, Iloilo City (WV Patient No. 358), a contact of WV Patient No. 303; and

– 53-year-old male from La Paz, Iloilo City (WV Patient No. 359).

WV Patient No. 354 is currently under facility quarantine, while the three other local cases are in a hospital.

Seven Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) were also infected:

– 64-year-old male from Hinobaan, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 355), a fisherman from Antique;

– 32-year-old male from Hinobaan, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 356), a fisherman from Antique;

– 31-year-old male from Hinobaan, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 357), a fisherman from Antique;

– 31-year-old male from Lambunao, Iloilo (WV Patient No. 362); and

– 28-year-old female from Miagao, Iloilo (WV Patient No. 364).

 Three repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) were also in the latest batch:

– 26-year-old male from Miag-ao, Iloilo (WV Patient No. 361);

– 30-year-old female from Tigbauan, Iloilo (WV Patient No. 363); and

– 33-year-old male from Pontevedra, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 365).

 All LSIs and OFWs are under facility quarantine, except for WV Patient No. 361, who is admitted to a hospital.

A total of 664 RT-PCR test results were released by the DOH-CHD-6, with 651 negative results.

As of July 3, 2020, Western Visayas has 365 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 206 active cases, 148 recoveries, and 11 deaths.