DPWH employee working at PICC facility dies before release of COVID-19 test results
MANILA, Philippines — A member of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) whose post was at a quarantine facility passed away before his novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test results could be released.
Sans proper test results, it is not yet clear if the employee's death was linked to the new pathogen, though personnel of the department have already placed themselves in self-quarantine as a precautionary measure.
This was confirmed by Anna Lamentillo, chairman of the DPWH’s Build, Build, Build committee, in a statement issued late Sunday night.
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"A colleague in DPWH, who worked in the PICC Quarantine Facility, died today. He exhibited diarrhea and was already tested for COVID-19. We are now awaiting results of the test. Please join us in praying for him and his family," her statement read.
"DPWH has already contacted the members of his family and has extended assistance. We have started with the process of contact tracing. We will voluntarily submit to self quarantine while awaiting the results from RITM," she added.
Lamentillo confirmed to Philstar.com earlier that PICC was one among many public facilities being converted into quarantine centers, with a capacity of 294 patients.
READ: Government readies 7,000 hospital beds in COVID-19 isolation hubs
Managed by the Philippine National Police Medical Corps, the fully-airconditioned PICC health facility is set to house patients with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19. It was turned over by the Villar group on April 15.
According to Lamentillo, the DPWH is also looking at other sites for conversion, including Amoranto Stadium, Quezon Institute, Dutyfree, FTI, Filinvest Tent, PhilSports Complex, Quezon City Circle, Veterans Memorial Circle, New Clark City Government Center and New Clark City Athlete's Village.
As of this writing, the Department of Health has recorded 6,259 cases of COVID-19, according to the department's latest online press conference Saturday evening.
Despite over a month of enhanced community quarantine in a bid to flatten the curve of the virus' spread, cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines continue to surge each day.
If you believe you have come into possible contact with infected patients, you may be directed to the proper office of the Department of Health for advice through the following lines: (632) 8651-7800 local 1149/1150 or (632) 165-364. You may also opt to call the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine at (02) 8807-2631/ 8807-2632/ 8807-2637. The general public has also been encouraged to forward its concerns to the Health Department's dedicated 24/7 COVID-19 hotlines (02) 894-COVID and 1555 (free for all subscribers).
Photo shows members of the Philippine National Police deployed in Manila amid COVID-19 threat. The STAR/Edd Gumban
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, 2020 declares an enhanced community quarantine over all of mainland Luzon, an expansion of an earlier general community quarantine over the National Capital Region.
The entire National Capital Region—16 cities and a municipality—is under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, which means the enforcement of social distancing measures like letting fewer people on public transportation, reduced store hours, and the possibiity of curfews.
According to a memorandum issued by the Palace on Saturday, March 14, the quarantine means that "movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points."
Travel restrictions in and out of the capital will also be implemented.
A labor group says another lockdown will never resolve rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after the government announced that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under the enhanced community quarantine starting Monday.
“The Duterte government seems to be deliberate in focusing its efforts in imposing quarantine and lockdown measures instead of addressing the rising cases of COVID-19 and the worsening state of the pandemic through medical solutions and scientific approach,” says Defend Jobs Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the implementation of enhanced community quarantine is meant to slow down the increase of COVID-19 cases, so hospitals and health workers will not be overwhelmed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announces that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday, March 29.
Tuguegarao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from January 20 to 29 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba approved the request of Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano to place the city under ECQ for 10 days.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the city currently has 246 active cases.
BREAKING NEWS | ENERO 19, 2021 RIATF INAPRUBAHAN NA ANG PAGSASAILALIM SA TUGUEGARAO CITY SA 10-ARAW NA...
Posted by Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Batangas, one of the provinces hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, has reported no new cases of the disease for two consecutive days.
The provincial DOH Office says the number of COVID-19 cases in the province stood at 91 with no new cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
Lipa City has the most cases with 26, followed by Batangas City (21) and Nasugbu (11).
Tanauan City has the fourth most cases with eight, followed by Bauan (5) and Alitagtag (3). Cuenca and Sto. Tomas City had two cases each, while the municipalities of Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Lobo, Mabini, Mataas na Kahoy, Padre Garcia, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual and Taal had one case each, respectively. — The Filipino Connection
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