MANILA, Philippines — The University of Santo Tomas Hospital (USTH) has reported that 530 of its staff members are now in quarantine following exposure to patients who are suspected of having contracted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The staffers include consultants, nurses, and aides, according to The Varsitarian, the official student publication of the university, quoting information from the UST Hospital.
“To address the issues brought about by the depleted workforce, we have consolidated several wards in the Private and Clinical Division, temporarily held elective admissions and had to temporarily stop elective procedures in selected units,” according to the UST Hospital’s management as quoted by the report.
According to the report, the hospital also announced that it would regulate admissions and postpone elective procedures in select units due to the reduced number of staff in view of the quarantine.
There was also reportedly a shortage in supply of personal protective equipment in the hospital, where a patient who tested positive for the disease was discharged on March 17 after being “clinically well” and after “satisfying the discharge criteria set by the Department of Health.”
The hospital, however, assured that it is closely keeping track of the situation in the facility and will provide updates on the schedules of its units.