(Photo by DOH-Davao)
(Photo by DOH-Davao)

3 more SPMC frontliners infected with Covid-19

SOUTHERN Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) said that as of April 26, three more frontline workers tested positive for the novel coronavirus which causes coronavirus disease (Covid-19), bringing the total number of frontline workers infected to 15.

SPMC chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega, however, said that since then no more frontline workers in their hospital were tested positive for coronavirus.

The number of positive workers is 2.5 percent out of the 519 frontliners who were tested.

As of May 1, five remaining SPMC employees are still admitted at the hospital while waiting for their next swab testing. The rest were already discharged.

Vega said their hospital employees are at risk of contracting the disease since SPMC has been identified as a Covid-19 referral center.

It can be recalled that on April 13, Vega confirmed that out of some 300 frontliners who were tested, 12 of them turned out to be positive for the virus including doctors, nurses, and administrative staff.

Of the 12, two died due to other underlying medical conditions.

To protect the frontliners, Vega earlier said that massive testing among their hospital workers must be done and that they must also be provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure their safety while on duty.

Earlier, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio pledged to donate her P2.1-million annual salary for health workers of SPMC who were infected while performing their duties.

Duterte-Carpio said each confirmed Covid-19 health worker will receive P50,000 including those who died and vowed to assist in their medical expenses.

Vega said that he submitted the names of their affected workers to the city government and were already provided with assistance.

Meanwhile, based on the data posted on SPMC Facebook page, from March 21 to April 30, the state-run hospital has recorded a total of 119 positive cases with 63 recoveries and 20 deaths.

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