(UPDATED) MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Orthopedic Center announced on Thursday its Out Patient Department and Elective Surgery OR will be temporarily closed, citing rising cases of employees testing positive for COVID-19.
Philippine Orthopedic Center Employees Union Head Sean Herbert Velchez confirmed that 117 out of 180 health workers swabbed on Tuesday have tested positive.
Most of the healthcare workers who caught the virus at the POC are either asymptomatic or experiencing mild symptoms.
Dahil po reflection ng nangyayari sa communities ang sitwasyon sa mga ospital, kinakabahan na kaming tataas talaga ang bilang ng nagpopositibong healthcare workers.
Philippine Orthopedic Center Employees Union Head Sean Herbert Velchez
Philippine Orthopedic Center workers appeal to national government for additional isolation, treatment facilities after more than 100 employees test positive for #COVID19.
Velchez says healthcare workers who tested positive have received their first shots of the #COVID19 vaccine: Although we are aware that the vaccine will not make us immune to the virus at proteksyon siya sa severe illness.
Most of the workers share apartments or rent bed spaces in dormitories and boarding houses, said Velchez. After testing positive, their biggest concern now is where to quarantine themselves so they don’t infect their co-dwellers.
“Namomroblema po talaga kung saan mag-a-isolate dahil punuan na ang mga LGU at DOH facilities. Ang panawagan namin ay magtalaga at magbukas pa ng mas maraming isolation and treatment facilities. Yung mental anguish ay malala para sa mga health worker at mga kababayan natin na walang kakayahan mag-home quarantine. Ayaw nilang makahawa pa. Takot din sila sa stigma.”
SOURCE: ABS-CBN News