65% of COVID-19 positive PGH health workers got virus from communities

Most of the health workers at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) who contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) got the respiratory illness from their respective communities, the hospital’s spokesperson said Thursday.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras,” over 200 out of some 6,000 PGH employees who underwent polymerase chain reaction and rapid testing were positive for COVID-19.

“Sixty-five percent of these healthcare workers, sa communities nila nakuha ‘yung sakit. Mas mababa po ‘yung mga healthcare workers namin na nagka-COVID-19 na nagtatrabaho mismo sa COVID wards,” PGH spokesman Jonas Del Rosario said.

The hospital administration vowed to give employees protective gear for use outside the workplace.

“Pag-uwi po nila, aside from a mask, we will be giving them face shields dahil baka nakukuha nila sa pagbiyahe, pag-i-interact, so ‘yan po ang aming promise sa employees ng PGH,” he said.

Cindy Balagtas, an emergency room nurse at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), likewise noted that a higher number of her fellow health workers contracted COVID-19 when quarantine restrictions were loosened.

“Currently, dalawang nurse and isang nursing attendant naka-isolate. ‘Yung pamilya no’ng isang nurse na nag-positive, lima do’n sa kamag-anak niya, positive rin,” she said.

Balagtas said it was highly likely that her colleagues got the virus from their communities since they observe strict health protocols at the workplace.

A total of 3,567 health workers nationwide have so far contracted COVID-19, the Department of Health said Thursday. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News