BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – At the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City, Negros Occidental, the number of medical staff that contracted coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has now reached 63.
They are all on quarantine.
According to the provincial government, the cases included eight doctors, 19 nurses, five nursing attendants, one midwife, nine medical technologists, one pharmacist, two radiologic technologists, and 18 support staff.
Earlier this week, TLJPH announced they were temporarily suspending regular services, including the hospital’s Outpatient Department (OPD) and their COVID-19 vaccination center.
Admissions at the hospital have also been limited to extreme emergency cases only.
Meanwhile, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is recovering well from COVID-19 and is expected to report to the provincial capitol on Monday, Jan. 31.
In a phone patch interview with members of the Negros Occidental media yesterday morning, Lacson said he taking another round of reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction test in the coming days to determine if he no longer has the coronavirus
He credited the mild symptoms he experienced and quick recovery to his being fully-vaccinated against COVID-19.
Last week, Lacson was forced to undergo a three-day health break after experiencing a sore throat while attending official functions in southern Negros.
He initially underwent a rapid antigen test; the result came back “non-reactive.”
On Jan. 22 Lacson underwent RT-PCR test; it showed him positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, effectively extending his three-day health break to 10 days.
The provincial capitol, meanwhile, has been placed on lockdown (Jan. 24 to 28)./PN
