Hospital closed over single positive case

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro: The community hospital of Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro was closed starting June 29 to July 5 for disinfection after one of its health workers tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a statement posted on its social media page, the Abradeilog Municipal hospital said the health worker was a 33-year-old female working at the facility.

According to Gov. Eduardo Gadiano, the patient works at the hospital’s laundry section.

She has undergone reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test on June 26 and the result from the Philippine Red

Cross came out on June 29.

The RT-PCR test was undertaken as part of an extended targeted testing of the Department of Health (DoH) of all public health workers.

A report of the provincial government of Occidental Mindoro mentioned that the patient has a travel history to Mamburao town, the provincial capital.

“Because of this, all the employees that the patient had contact with will undergo strict home quarantine at would be subjected to RT-PCR swab test to ensure their safety,” the statement said.

No services will be administered on outpatient check-up, admission and even emergency cases and maternity services, it added.

Abra de Ilog is a second class municipality and is considered one of the poorest in the province.

It has a population of 31,306 (2015 census), including a significant number of Iraya, an Indigenous group.

The community hospital caters to mostly indigent patients.

It is headed by officer in charge Dr. Jovi Galang, a Doctor to the Barrios personnel of the Health department.