SAN ANTONIO, Zambales –– Health workers in Zambales have asked for medical safety gear like personal protective equipment (PPE) now that the province has recorded its first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient.
Doctors, nurses, and health care providers have been spending their own money to purchase devices like surgical face masks, said a physician, who spoke to the Inquirer on condition of anonymity. “Wala talaga kaming gamit. Nagdadala kami ng sarili naming mask (We have no supplies. We bring our masks),” she said.
“We are all worried. We need N95 masks and other important PPE to protect our patients and ourselves,” the source said.
On Thursday (March 26), Zambales reported that a 73-year-old man who retired from the United States Navy had tested positive for the virus.
Dr. Noel Bueno, Zambales health director, said the patient was stable and they are now tracking down people with whom he had been in contact before he was quarantined.
As of 5 p.m. of March 26, the province has 156 patients under investigation and 8,768 persons under monitoring.
Also on Thursday, Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr. locked down Olongapo City at midnight, preventing people from entering or exiting, but has allowed food and other cargo unhampered access.