Ospital ng Tondo, one of six district hospitals in Manila, will temporarily close for 10 days starting Friday (August 14) after 32 of its hospital staff contracted coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso announced Friday morning.
The hospital will resume operations Friday, August 28.
Domagoso said he approved the request of the management of Ospital ng Tondo to stop operations to allow health workers time to rest.
"So para maka-relax, ma-ease the burden na ang pasyente ay doctor na rin, pasyente ay nurse na rin at mabigyan sila ng panahon na maka-recover... at makapagpahinga na rin (So they can relax, and ease their burden that their patients are fellow doctors and nurses, and to allow them time to recover and rest)," Domagoso said in an interview over DZMM.
Those confined at Ospital ng Tondo will continue to be treated during the temporary closure of the hospital, the Manila mayor said.
Incoming patients, except emergency cases, will be referred to the city's five other district hospitals -- Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center in Tondo, Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital in Binondo, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Ospital ng Maynila, and Sta. Ana Hospital.
This is the second time that Ospital ng Tondo shut the facility temporarily due to COVID-19 infections by its hospital staff. The first closure was in May 11 to 24.
The Manila Health Department (MHD) suggested the rotational closure of the district hospitals in Manila to allow their health workers time to rest and recuperate, Domagoso said in a phone interview with the Manila Bulletin.