Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 22) — Up to five healthcare workers of the Philippine General Hospital test positive for COVID-19 per day, its spokesman said.
In a virtual briefing, PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said two to five of their staff test positive for the virus, most of whom got the infection from their communities.
Despite this, he said they are able to cope with the implementation of stricter protocols within the facility. These include the deployment of safety officers who remind health workers to follow safety protocols, a 14-day quarantine then testing for workers who get exposed followed by retesting after 14 days again before returning to work, and the wearing of KN95 mask and face shield.
On vaccination, Del Rosario said 80%, or 6,000 of their staff have been vaccinated. Those who got infected or are under quarantine due to exposure have yet to get vaccinated. Only a small percentage of the heath workers are hesitant to get inoculated for personal reasons, he noted.
Based on the prioritization framework, the country’s 1.7 million healthcare workers are first to be vaccinated.
The Philippines has so far received some 3 million doses of vaccine from China and the COVAX facility. Currently, over 1.2 million Filipinos have received at least their first dose of the coronavirus shot since the government started its vaccination program in March, which includes 965,960 healthcare workers
