Over 3,000 healthcare workers in NCR undergoing isolation — DOH exec

More than 3,000 healthcare workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) are undergoing isolation amid the increase in COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

At the Laging Handa briefing, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said around 3,114 healthcare workers are isolated in the region, making up 11% of the 26,000 healthcare workers in government institutions.

Vega said some healthcare workers experienced reinfection.

“[N]agkakaroon talaga ng reinfections itong mga healthcare workers natin or ‘yung mga breakthrough kasi sila ‘yung nauuna talaga, sila ‘yung first line sa hospital na [nakikipagharap sa] COVID-19 patients,” he said.

(Our healthcare workers really had reinfection or breakthrough because they were the first line in hospitals who helped COVID-19 patients.)

Despite this, Vega said cases are still manageable.

“Pero ‘yun nga, nag-strategize na rin ang ibang hospitals na mag-close ng ibang services nila like OPD, special services, at saka yung mga elective surgery nila pino-postpone muna,” he said.

(But our hospitals are strategizing and they are closing down some of their services like OPD, special services, and elective surgery.)

Data from the DOH showed that 56% of the ICU beds in NCR are occupied while 55% of the isolation beds are in use.

According to Vega, the healthcare utilization rate in the region is at the border between moderate risk and low risk at 60%.

Meanwhile, he said the agency is currently drafting a memorandum of agreement for the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection among others.

“Para magkaroon tayo ng deployment ng uniformed personnel across. Kasi ‘yung unang ginawa naming memorandum of agreement was between regions, no? Between regions and the uniformed personnel at saka DOH,” he said.

(So we can have the deployment of uniformed personnel across. Because what we previously did was a MOA between regions, uniformed personnel, and the DOH.)

“Ngayon, pangkalahatan na talaga para magkaroon kami ng easier mobilization at tulong, makatulong kaagad ‘yung uniformed personnel kung saan man nangangailangan talaga ‘yung regions for deployment,” he added.

(Now, it is for everyone so we will have easier mobilization and uniformed personnel can immediately help those in need.) — RSJ, GMA News