MANILA, Philippines — At least 55 health workers at the Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
BGHMC chief Glory Baltazar said the number of infected hospital workers could still rise as they await more test results.
Baltazar said more than 700 hospital employees were tested, 230 of whom were found negative of the disease.
She said contract tracing showed that the infected workers were exposed to a male patient who underwent emergency surgery early this month.
Nine hospital workers with mild symptoms were quarantined at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga City.
Bataan has recorded 81 confirmed cases. Fifteen have recovered and four died.
Baguio village on lockdown
In Baguio City, Mayor Benjamin Magalong placed Barangay San Vicente on lockdown over violations of enhanced community quarantine protocols.
Magalong said access to and from the barangay would be restricted, with market schedule cancelled, except for authorized persons outside residence.
Three barangays in the city had earlier been placed on lockdown, also due to quarantine violations.
10-year-old girl
In Butuan City, the third confirmed COVID-19 case is a 10-year-old girl.
The Department of Health-Caraga regional office said the girl was asymptomatic, but had close contact with a person who attended the Araw ng Dabaw six-cock derby in New Davao Matina Gallera last month.
Butuan has three confirmed cases. One of the patients was also exposed to those who attended the cockpit derby.
Three of six COVID-19 deaths in Davao was linked to the event.
A patient has recovered and another case was recorded in Bulacan on Wednesday.
The provincial health office said the number of COVID-19 cases in the province has reached 104. Four patients have recovered and 24 have died. – Artemio Dumlao, Ben Serrano, Ramon Efren Lazaro