COVID-19 patient dies after getting symptoms at isolation center in Batangas

A patient who tested positive for COVID-19 died at an isolation center in Batangas after he allegedly didn't get immediate attention when he developed severe symptoms.

According to Ivan Mayrina’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, the patient’s wife and four children all contracted the respiratory illness. 

The wife said the isolation facility was able to manage their needs at first but when her husband’s condition got worse, the facility was not able to attend to his needs.

The wife said she called the facility staff because her husband’s condition was getting worse. 

However, she said the staff only sent her husband some lagundi as medication. He was also not checked by doctors.

“Ilang beses po kami nag-try tumawag pero walang sumagot. Ang ginawa ko po, kinapalan ko na ang mukha ko kasi may kapitbahay po kaming pulis na nag-positive, pinakatok ko na po ‘yon para mapuntahan ‘ypng gwardya sa dulo para mapuntahan ‘yong pinaka front,” she said.

When a nurse finally responded, she said he did not even try to revive her husband.

“Mukhang inatake si sir, ma’am. Mukhang wala na. Ganoon agad sinabi sa akin. Sabi ko ‘wala ka bang gagawin, kuya? Hindi mo ba ire-revive?’” she said.

Meanwhile, the nurse admitted he was not able to answer the call immediately but said they were on standby in case something happens.

“Lahat po kami dito nagpapahinga na so ang phone po kasi iniiwan namin sa nurse station so since nakaabang naman po kami noong time na ‘yon, hindi lamang po nasagot kaagad,” the responding nurse said.

He said he immediately called an ambulance after the wife called but they had a problem finding a hospital with a vacancy.

When they finally found one, the husband was declared dead on arrival due to myocardial infarction.

“Kulang na kulang pa kami ng gamit since hotel setting nga lang po kami at ang mga tinatanggap lang po namin ay asymptomatic,” the nurse said.

Based on DOH guidelines, at least one facility physician per shift must be physically present or remote, but accessible through telehealth 24/7.

At least two nurses must also be on duty (one to provide direct patient care and the other to serve as supply personnel).

“Lahat ng mga isolation centers, nire-require nila ‘yan. Bago nga ma-accredit ‘yang isolation centers ng DOH, dapat mayroon talagang o kung sa local government man ‘yan, mayroon silang doktor na umiikot at tsaka nagsu-supervise sa mga isolation centers,” Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said.

“Required talaga ‘yan na may doktor even for mild and asymptomatic. At least, ma-supervise ‘yong mga pasyente,” he added.

Leopoldo said the DOH is already investigating the matter. --NB, GMA News