Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 21) – More health workers are getting infected as they remain on the front lines fighting this disease.
BGHMC Chief Dr. Glory Baltazar said the hospital has recently experienced a sudden increase in infected health workers.
“Ito po ay dahil halos sabay-sabay na lumabas ang resulta ng confirmatory test na isinagawa sa mga health workers,” Baltazar said in a statement.
[Translation: This is because the results of the confirmatory tests carried out with health workers came out simultaneously.]
“Maaari pa ring madagdagan ang bilang na ito dahil isinasailalim ang lahat ng kawani na pumasok magmula April 1 hanggang sa kasalukuyan upang masiguro na walang maiiwang hindi tested,” Baltazar added.
[Translation: This number can still increase since all staff reporting since April 1 have been tested to make sure no one is left untested.]
Baltazar said as of Tuesday, more than 700 health workers have been tested with 230 testing negative for the disease while more than 400 are awaiting results.
Baltazar also responded to allegations made on social media of negligence amid the rising number of COVID-19 health workers in the hospital, saying doctors remain among the most vulnerable in this pandemic.
BGHMC said the provincial government of Bataan has identified six hotels that have offered to provide temporary accommodation to health workers from various hospitals in the province.
The provincial government also provided bus transport and commissioned Metro Bataan Development Authority to help bring health workers to and from the hospital and their quarantine area.
BGHMC said that about 100 medical staff who have tested negative for COVID-19 will continue to serve at the hospital.
The Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) said Tuesday that 55 health workers have tested positive for COVID-19.
