Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 16) —A COVID-19 outbreak hit two convents in Quezon City, with at least 136 personnel and nuns contracting the virus.
The nuns who tested positive for the virus were aged 80 to 101 years old. One of the nuns was rushed to the hospital and later died, QC Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) Rolly Cruz told CNN Philippines’ News.PH. She tested positive for the coronavirus.
The convent has been placed under lockdown since Sept. 15, the city government said.
On Wednesday, the city government also reported that 114 persons — 64 nuns and 50 staff members — were infected at the Religious of the Virgin Mary in Cubao. The convent has been under lockdown since Sept. 14, officials said.
The city government said Thursday that the Convent of the Holy Spirit at Brgy. Immaculate Conception has reported 22 positive cases, including 13 nuns and 9 staffers.
He added that said his team is conducting intensive contact tracing to control the transmission. Possible close contacts from outside the facility will be identified, Cruz said. He mentioned that authorities are also monitoring its 35 “long-term care facilities,” such as rehabilitation centers.
Cruz said most of the nuns were not yet vaccinated.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has directed the CESU to list all closed-setting facilities in the city to review their compliance with health protocols. She also instructed health workers to determine the vaccination status of the people staying or working in these facilities.
Belmonte also urged residents to follow minimum health standards and reminded administrators to immediately report to city officials any possible COVID-19 case.
Latest data show that Quezon City has recorded 150,740 COVID-19 infections, of which 13,252 are active cases. It has also logged 136,104 recoveries and 1,384 deaths.
