USEP to donate face shields to COVID-19 health workers

THE UNIVERSITY of Southeastern Philippines has fabricated face shields to be donated to the frontliners, amid the shortage of personal protective equipment for medical health workers.

The face shields were made in the Fabrication Laboratory of DigiHubFabLab Davao, a project between University of Southeastern Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Science and Technology, and in collaboration with local hobbyists and medical practitioners.

The face shields will be distributed to medical health workers from South

ern Philippines Medical Center and Davao Regional Medical Center where the confirmed cases of COVID-19 are confined.

Dave Francis B. Batoon, DigiHub-FabLab Davao administrator, said they initially fabricated 54 pieces, but they are planning to continue making more in response to the requests of other hospitals in the region.

“It's purposeful and inspiring because instead of doing nothing in time of quarantine, we can make our time to support our frontliners who risk themselves to save lives,” he said.

At present, there are six confirmed cases in the region with five who are still confined and one who already recovered.

There are 141 patients under investigation (PUI) with nine deaths. Four already tested negative for the virus while the other five are still awaiting confirmation from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). Meanwhile, 71 PUIs are currently admitted and 61 are already discharged.

For the persons under monitoring (PUM), the Department of Health already recorded 10,361 cases, where 3,589 are already cleared and 6,771 are still under observation. There was one fatality but caused by a falling accident, and not related to COVID-19.