Malabon hospital limits admissions after virus infects 4 staffers

A public hospital in Malabon City has announced that it will be limiting admissions for a week after four of its personnel tested positive for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ospital ng Malabon (OsMal) said that until May 7, it would accept only COVID-19 patients to give way to disinfection procedures and contact tracing.It added that it would also conduct swab testing for those who might possibly be infected after interacting with the four staffers.

The hospital, however, clarified that it would only resume normal operations should the test results be released immediately.

OsMal, which is located in Barangay Tañong, has yet to confirm whether the four personnel directly treated or interacted with coronavirus-positive patients.

“Our emergency room, laboratory and radiologic section will remain open for outpatients and we will continue operations at the amphitheater—the medical management area—to care for suspected and probable COVID-19 patients in the city,” it said.

The hospital, which conducts confirmatory tests for suspected and probable cases in the city, urged patients to try its “Telekonsulta,” a hotline for those with minor medical concerns, including checkups, drug prescription and other consultations. The contact numbers are posted on OsMal’s official Facebook page.

“We are doing this for everyone’s safety. We advise pregnant women, senior citizens, those with heart ailments or are diabetic not to visit OsMal for checkups as they are among the most vulnerable to the virus,” it said.

Early in April, Caloocan City Medical Center North in Camarin temporarily stopped operations after one of its doctors tested positive for COVID-19 despite showing no symptoms.

As of Thursday, Malabon had recorded 51 COVID-19 cases, with nine deaths and 12 recoveries.