PGH asks public to refrain from consulting OPD unless necessary

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Saturday requested the public to refrain from consulting its Outpatient Department unless necessary due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"Nakikiusap ang pamunuan ng PGH na kung maaring ipag-paliban muna ang pag-konsulta sa OPD kung wala namang agarang pangagailangan sa panahong ito na may banta ng COVID-19," the PGH said in a Facebook post.

According to PGH spokesperson Jonas del Rosario, the request was in accordance with social distancing guidelines issued by the health authorities to help curb the spread of the illness.

"[We are] trying to limit potential exposure of patients and health care workers,"  Del Rosario said in a text message to GMA News Online. "Social distancing will be quite hard in our crowded clinic.

"We also want to conserve our workforce who will be needed to man the ER," he added.

However, the spokesman clarified that the OPD would remain open for urgent needs.

Regular clinic hours would return once the situation calmed down, the hospital promised.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country climbed to 140 on Sunday with 11 recorded fatalities.

Meanwhile, all land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila was suspended from March 15 to April 14 amid the community quarantine. — DVM, GMA News