More than 400 health care workers in city have COVID

COVID-19 cases in hospitals and health facilities in Iloilo City are once again rising.

Based on data from the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU), the number of infected medical workers jumped to more than 400.

From Jan 1 to 24, 2022, a total of 473 health care workers composed of doctors, nurses, medical technologists, nursing aides, and other health personnel in the city hospitals and health facilities tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) logged the most number of infected health care workers with 87, followed by the West Visayas State University-Medical Center (WVSU-MC) with 60; and Iloilo Mission Hospital with 27.

Iloilo Doctor’s Hospital (IDH) recorded 11 positive cases; while St. Paul’s Hospital Iloilo and The Medical City Iloilo each recorded 10 cases.

COVID-19 transmission was also monitored in the City Health Office (CHO) with 16 cases and at the Medicus Medical Center with seven cases.

The infected health workers include physicians (63), nurses (92), medical technologists (30), nursing aides (10), and pharmacists (11).

In terms of vaccination status, 218 of the infected workers have received full doses of COVID-19 vaccines while 11 are unvaccinated.

Due to the rising cases of infected health care workers, some hospitals have limited their services.

St. Paul’s Hospital Iloilo in a public advisory on Wednesday announced the temporary closure of their emergency room (ER) until further notice after some of its staff tested positive for Covid-19.

“A number of our staff are infected with Covid-19 and cannot report for duty for the time being. Their absence impacts our available manpower and as a result our ER will be closed until further notice,” the advisory said.

Meanwhile, the hospital clarified that their ER Holding Area remains open to accommodate clients willing to avail COVID “Q” package and drive-thru swabbing and other procedures.

Furthermore, patients who are scheduled for the operating room while the ER is closed will be catered as “direct to room admission”. (DG)