More equipment for Ebola workers arrive in CV

CEBU, Philippines -  The Department of Health’s regional spokesperson for Ebola, Dr. Dino Caing, announced yesterday that 100 sets of personal protective equipment have arrived in Cebu, assuring the public that health workers handling the virus’ threat are well protected.

The PPEs cost P3,000 per set and are intended for those handling persons under investigation (PUI) for Ebola or those who do not display any of the symptom.

Each health care worker can only wear the gear for up to 45 minutes because of the warm temperature therein. Last week, another 55 PPE sets were deli-vered to DOH -7.

For a person to be considered a suspect, he or she must manifest symptoms like fever, cough and colds.

Caing said another set of PPEs are used for Ebola suspects and those who tested positive. These are more advanced and costs P20,000 per set.

DOH -7 is currently monitoring three overseas Filipino workers from West Africa as part of the government’s mandatory 21-day quarantine.

The first one arrived in the first week of December and will be discharged right before Christmas.

The latest two, meanwhile, will have to spend Christmas and New Year under quarantine since they only arrived on December 16 yet and will have to finish 21 days only seeing health care workers and some visiting family members who are required to maintain a one-meter distance.  (FREEMAN)