MANILA, Philippines — The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) has claimed the life of another medical worker on the frontlines of the battle against the highly contagious respiratory illness.
Manny Pacheco, the chief nurse of the Mandaluyong City Medical Center (MCMC), has died due to COVID-19, the hospital’s administrator confirmed to INQUIRER.net on Thursday.
“Yes, I confirm the untimely death of Mr. Manny Pacheco, Chief Nurse of the hospital, due to COVID-19,” MCMC Hospital Administrator Cesar Tutaan said.
According to Tutaan, Pacheco had been with the hospital for over 30 years and “was very dedicated to his work.”
“He was loved by his colleagues, peers, and superiors,” he said.
Pacheco, 62, became MCMC’s chief nurse in 2016.
Tutaan said Pacheco passed away at 2:40 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8.
The Department of Health (DOH) earlier said that the deadly respiratory disease took the lives of at least 12 healthcare workers in the country.
It also said that 152 doctors and 63 nurses have tested positive for COVID-19.
READ: DOH: 252 healthcare workers have COVID-19
To date, there are 3,870 individuals in the country infected with COVID-19, including 182 deaths and 96 recoveries.
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, which outbreak started in China’s Wuhan City in Hubei province in late 2019.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.