- MITCH M. LIPA
Due to the increasing number of frontline staff members, who contracted the COVID infection, the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City requested the Office of the Governor for a limit on the number of patient admissions.
Dr. Mary Anne Maestral, TLJPH OIC chief of hospital, said they can only accept emergency surgical operations until further notice, as they are conducting contact tracing and disinfection of the hospital premises.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said some sections of the hospital will have limited admissions and he advised those concerned to refer the case to the Hospital Command System prior to the transfer of a patient.
Two more hospital personnel from the Administrative Section were recently referred for isolation at Mambukal Resort in Murcia, and last week, around five were brought to the isolation center after they tested positive for COVID. Some of their family members were also found positive and brought to Mambukal Resort.
Initial investigation showed that the first group of staff members who tested positive had visited other sections of the hospital, and spread the infection to others.
Meanwhile, Diaz said the vaccination rollout continued on July 5 using the remaining Pfizer doses. Employees of national government agencies, who requested the Office of the Governor to be included in the vaccination rollout, were attended to.
The rollout in the different towns and cities also continued Monday using the newly-arrived Sinovac vaccines.
Diaz added that the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines ordered by the province last year will arrive on July 15. An estimated 3,500 doses will compose the first batch, representing 3.5 percent of the 100,000 doses procured by Negros Occidental.
As of July 4, the province has administered anti-COVID vaccines to more 101,000 Negrenses, Diaz said. – MML
