530 UST Hospital staff under quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — Some 530 staff members of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Hospital have been placed under quarantine after being exposed to patients who had tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), prompting the health care facility to provide limited service.

Based on the statement of the UST Hospital, among those quarantined were consultants, fellows, resident doctors, nurses and aides, according to a report by The Varsitarian, UST’s official student publication.

“To address the issues brought about by the depleted workforce, we have consolidated several wards in the Private and Clinical Division, temporarily held elective admissions and had to temporarily stop elective procedures in selected units,” the UST Hospital said over the weekend, as it assured the public that it would continue to monitor the situation.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has tested negative for COVID-19, but remains in home quarantine, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

The DOH, however, confirmed reports on the rising number of doctors and other health workers getting placed under quarantine after exposure to novel coronavirus-positive patients and manifesting symptoms of the infection.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire admitted that the agency has been receiving numerous reports, particularly from private hospitals, concerning doctors and other health workers on quarantine.

She said they have reports that there are health workers who have been exposed because the patient did not  disclose complete information, including travel history.

At this time, though, the health undersecretary said the DOH still has no actual number of health workers who have gotten infected with COVID-19 and those manifesting symptoms, thus placed under quarantine.

“Our epidemiology bureau is now collating data, not just from the government, but also (from) the private sector, so that we can have an inventory of health workers who are now under confinement, so that they can be provided assistance,” Vergeire said.

She requested patients to fully disclose information when they seek medical consultation for the protection of the health workers who will attend to them.

“We have to protect our health workers because when all of  our frontliners get sick, who will take care of the COVID-19 patients?” she said.

To decongest the private hospitals of COVID-19 patients and go back to normal operations, the DOH is finalizing arrangement for the operation of three referral hospitals where these patients will be admitted, according to Vergeire.

For the protection of health workers, Vergeire said the DOH would start distribution of more personal protective equipment to various medical facilities nationwide.

She advised people to continue monitoring and staying in isolation, if possible, after completing 14 days of quarantine.

The DOH also will soon come out with the necessary guidelines concerning the use of label drugs or medicines being used for treatment of other illnesses.

“We should not just buy or use any drugs because those have side effects. Let’s wait for the DOH guidelines,” Vergeire said.

She added that the DOH is expecting three hospitals to soon offer services solely for COVID-19 patients, but private hospitals will continue to accept those with mild symptoms.