SPMC advertises for 60 nurses, 40 house keeping aides; Davao Region COVID-19 cases up to 30

THE SOUTHERN Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City, one of the designated COVID-19 referral hospitals in the Davao Region, is hiring 60 licensed nurses and 40 administrative aides under the housekeeping division as it tends to patients alongside ensuring the welfare of its frontline health workers. As of Saturday evening, Davao Region had 30 people confirmed with the COVID-19, of which 20 are admitted at SPMC. Two others are at the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City, while four have recovered and four have died. Based on latest data from the Department of Health regional office, there are over 70 persons under investigation (PUI) admitted in the hospitals and over 7,000 persons under monitoring (PUM). SPMC, which has suspended outpatient services since March 23, has already started carrying out tests as the satellite laboratory for “diagnosis and identification” of suspected COVID-19 patients in Mindanao. The SPMC and its Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine

PUI CENTER

Meanwhile, the Davao City government is preparing five quarantine centers for PUIs, or those exhibiting symptoms of the disease. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the PUI centers will help in managing SPMC’s capacity. “There are PUIs who insist on staying in hospitals. As a PUI, if you are not sure that you are positive of COVID-19 but you exhibit symptoms, you are better off in the centers than in the hospitals which have patients with positive cases,” Ms. Duterte-Carpio said Friday as she inspected the planned sites. Among those being readied are the drug rehabilitation center and nearby Bureau of Fire Protection office in Malagos, the Alternative Learning School beside People’s Park, La Vida Inn, and the Queensland Hotel. EMCOR Inc., a distributor of appliances and various other products, has also offered to convert container vans PUI facilities. —