By Analou De Vera
More than 200 health workers in the country have already been afflicted with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
"Base sa latest na datos na natanggap ng DOH, 252 na pong healthcare workers ang confirmed na nagkaroon ng COVID-19 (Based on the latest data received by the DOH, 252 healthcare workers have been confirmed to have COVID-19)," said Special Assistant to the Health Secretary Dr. Beverly Ho in a press briefing.
Of the figure, Ho said, 152 are doctors while 63 are nurses. But Ho was unable to provide details on the remaining 37 other health workers with COVID-19.
“Kumpirmado po na ang 12 ang pumanaw na healthcare workers dahil sa COVID-19 (We confirmed that 12 health workers had died due to COVID-19),” Ho saud.
National Center for Mental Health issue
In a related development, Ho said that the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City has “enough” personal protective equipment (PPEs) for its staff.
“Director Roland Cortez, the chief of NCMH, has confirmed that they have enough PPEs. This morning, they received 500 sets and yesterday, they received 800,” said Ho.
The DOH issued the statement after an open letter regarding the situation of NCMH circulated on social media.
Currently, 30 NCMH health workers have been infected with COVID-19, said Cortez. He also added that six in-patients have contracted the disease – three of them died already, while the remaining ones are “on their way to recovery.”
“The matter is already being addressed at NCMH,” said Ho.
Meanwhile, the hospital’s chief administrative officer, Clarita Avila, has been ordered to stop issuing statements regarding the COVID-19 situation at NCMH.
In a memorandum, signed by Cortez and posted on the NCMH Facebook page, it stated that Avila is not “the spokesperson” of the medical institution.
The memorandum also stated that Avila was “ordered to refrain from issuing statement about COVID-19 issues because this function is under DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire.