BALANGA CITY (PIA) — About 230 health workers at the Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) tested negative to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a statement, BGHMC Chief Glory Baltazar revealed 55 out of more than 700 BGHMC personnel who were tested for the disease, yielded a positive result.
“Sad to say that in the previous days, the number of confirmed positive health workers at BGHMC has suddenly increased. This is because of the simultaneous release of results from confirmatory tests conducted on them,” she said.
Baltazar explained that the cause of the outbreak in the hospital is due to a COVID-19 patient who underwent an emergency medical procedure on April 1, exposing the attending trauma surgeon and nurses.
“That doctor was asymptomatic when he had his COVID-19 test on April 5 but when the results came out on April 10, he tested positive. From that day, everyone who had direct contact with the infected health workers and the patient underwent the testing,” she added.
The hospital chief said that to further contain the disease, personnel were grouped based on risk factor and are staying at different floors in a building of the hospital.
“The first group are those who had no direct contact and are showing no symptoms, while the second group are those who had direct contact but are also showing no symptoms. Health workers with direct contact who continue to serve the hospital are isolated,” Baltazar explained.
She also disclosed that letting personnel stay and sleep inside BGHMC is measure of the hospital for the safety of the community especially for their families and loved ones.
About 100 BGHMC personnel are staying at different hotels provided by the provincial government and are serving the hospital after receiving negative results from their confirmatory tests.
Moreover, nine health workers who are experiencing mild symptoms of the disease are quarantined in their respective isolation tents located at the Bataan People’s Center.
Baltazar appeals to her personnel for patience on the accommodation provided to them.
“We understand that this is not the ideal quarters and you need to sacrifice comfort. We ask for your cooperation as this will be temporary,” the hospital chief assured.