Hospital staff exhausted due to COVID-19, DOH says

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Sunday said some hospitals are already experiencing exhaustion of their healthcare system due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Vergeire said they have been receiving these reports particularly from private hospitals.

“Kahit wala pa po tayong imbentaryo, marami na tayong report na nakukuha na marami na pong hospital especially the private hospitals na nagkakaroon na ng exhaustion of their system,” she said.

According to Vergeire, the exhaustion includes health workers who were either tired or under quarantine after attending to COVID-19 patients.

“Kasama na po ‘yung human resources na dahil sa pagod at na-quarantine na po ‘yung iba,” she said.

Vergeire added that the department also received a report about a patient who did not disclose complete information to the doctor.

Due to this, the doctor did not wear personal protective equipment while attending to the patient. Later, it was found out that the patient was positive for COVID-19 and the doctor already caught the virus.

“Isa lang naman panawagan natin sa community: Maaari lang po i-disclose niyo po ang compete information niyo. If you don’t disclose, ang malalagay naman sa peligro ay ang ating health workers,” she said

“Kailangan po nating pangalagaan ang ating health workers dahil sila po ang mag-aalaga sa atin. Kapag nagkasakit at naubos ang ating frontliners, wala na pong mag-aasikaso sa atin,” she said. 

On Saturday, a young cardiologist died due to COVID-19 while fulfilling his duties as a doctor, the Philippine Heart Association said.

At The Medical City (TMC) in Pasig City, as of Saturday night, 144 health workers (95 nurses, 13 residents and fellows, 12 emergency room physicians and 24 house staff) have been placed under quarantine due to confirmed or possible exposure to COVID-19 cases, TMC president and chief executive officer Dr. Eugenio Jose Ramos said on Sunday. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News