Virus patient’s suicide in hospital prompts call for compassion

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — The head of a government hospital on Wednesday appealed for compassion for people afflicted with the new coronavirus as COVID-19 cases continued to rise in this city.

The appeal came after a 48-year-old patient who apparently became troubled after he was diagnosed with the severe respiratory disease jumped to his death from the third floor window of the hospital on Tuesday.

“Everyone can experience emotional, mental and physical drain at this crucial time. We should not add to the burden and sufferings that these fragile populations are experiencing at this time of pandemic,” said Dr. Gerardo Aquino Jr., the medical chief of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

“We urge the public to maintain the support and prayers for all patients as well as health-care workers to avoid stigma and discrimination. We need encouragement. We need each other. We are bigger than this pandemic and we are capable to heal as one,” he said in a statement.

Aquino said the suicide was “heartbreaking.”

He said the patient was admitted to the hospital on Monday with pneumonia and was positive for the new coronavirus in a rapid antibody test.

Around 7 a.m. on June 9, the nurse on duty heard him singing in his third floor room and then he suddenly screamed and became agitated. An hour later, the nurse saw the patient bang his fist on the glass door and was later spotted in the third floor lobby by a security guard.

The man broke the glass window near the elevators and jumped, Aquino said.

‘All we need is respect’

Police officers who went to investigate were told that the body of the man, whose family was informed about the suicide, was immediately cremated.

A front-liner who had recovered from COVID-19 also called for compassion to those afflicted with the virus.

Annabeth Cuizon, acting head of the Lapu-Lapu City Social Welfare and Development Office, earlier lamented that she, too, experienced discrimination after she tested positive for COVID-19 in April.

In an earlier statement, Cuizon said even the social workers in her office, who were supposed to distribute amelioration cash cards to city residents, were denied the use of a vehicle simply because they were working with her.

“All we need is your respect, compassion and understanding,” she said.

She asked the Lapu-Lapu city council to enact an ordinance to stop the discrimination against those who tested positive for the virus.

COVID-19 cases in Central Visayas, particularly in Cebu City, are continuing to rise.

740 new cases

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported that the total number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 was 23,732 nationwide with the addition of 740 new cases.

Central Visayas accounted for 83 cases, the second-highest number among 452 patients who tested positive within the last three days for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Metro Manila, with 91, reported the most number of these cases. The rest of the cases (277) are from various provinces in the country.

An additional 159 patients raised the number of people who had recovered to 4,895. Ten patients had died, increasing the toll to 1,027.

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said he wanted the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to maintain the status of the city, which has been under general community quarantine since June 1.

He said loosening the restrictions after June 15 won’t be appropriate for the city.

More health workers hired

Also on Wednesday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH had hired and deployed 3,498 health-care workers to various hospitals and quarantines nationwide.

She asked for more health care workers to apply as front-liners as the country needed them. (Details of how to apply can be found at bit.ly/HCWHiring.)The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public against using the uncertified DeepBlue COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody test kit.

The FDA said the quality and safety of the device could not be guaranteed because it had not been evaluated by the agency.

The 81 registered antibody tests may be checked at the FDA website.

—With reports from Nestle Semilla and Jovic Yee