MANILA, Philippines — The Caloocan City Medical Center (CCMC) was ordered closed for one week after several healthcare workers tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), city government announced Friday.
Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan said the temporary shutdown will give way to quarantine measures and contact tracing.
“Sa kasalukuyan, naka-quarantine na ang mga nurse at Medtech na nagpositibo sa virus at tuluy-tuloy ang isinasagawa nating contact tracing upang mapigilan ang pagkalat nito,” Malapitan said in a social media post.
(For now, the nurses and medical technologists who tested positive for the virus are under quarantine while contact tracing is being done to stop the spread of the virus.)
“Dahil dito, pansamantalang sarado sa loob ng isang linggo ang CCMC kasama ang Emergency Room, mula 12:00 ng tanghali ng July 17 hanggang 12:00 ng tanghali ng July 23, upang magbigay-daan sa masusing decontamination na ating isinasagawa,” he added.
(Hence, CCMC is temporarily closed for one week, including the emergency room from 12 noon of Friday, July 17 until 12 noon on July 23 for decontamination.)
CCMC is also at “overflowing capacity” for COVID-19 patients, Malapitan said.
The mayor advised COVID-19 patients to visit other hospitals instead for immediate treatment.
Malapitan said the out-patient department of Old City Hall Plaza and Caloocan City North Medical Center is still open.