Lack of mask infects Pinoy nurse in Ireland

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino hospital nurse in Ireland had contracted the n coronavirus disease (COVID-19) last March because she was not allowed to wear a mask while attending to a coughing patient who eventually tested positive for the virus.

Philippine honorary consul to Ireland Raymond Garrett told local media that the nurse also infected her roommate and put at risk another housemate. The three are all nurses.

The two infected Filipino nurses have since recovered and returned to work, Garrett said.

“She had a patient who was coughing and spewing. She requested [if] could she wear a face mask, she was told no. She was told at the time this was against national guidelines because the patient wasn’t a confirmed case,” Garrett said.

—Dona Z. Pazzibugan