Bago City Hospital stops admitting patients after doc contracts COVID-19

BACOLOD CITY –– The Bago City Hospital has temporarily stopped admitting patients starting Wednesday after one of its contractual doctors from Bacolod City tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Bago Mayor Nicholas Yulo said the 50-bed hospital would be decontaminated and disinfected.

While it will not admit new patients until Monday, the Bago City Hospital will continue accepting emergency cases.

Dr. Allan Abayon, chief of the Bago City Hospital, said the female doctor, who tested positive for COVID-19, works for a Bacolod business outsourcing company.

At least 42 persons at the hospital have been identified to have close contact with the doctor and were swabbed for COVID-19.

“They were advised not to go home and were quarantined,” Abayon said.

In Talisay City, Mayor Neil Lizares directed the closure of the Talisay City Health Office emergency room on Thursday until further notice.

“This is part of the precautionary measures that we are taking, which include thorough disinfection of places where people usually go,” he said.

The General Services Office and the Bids and Awards Committee Office at the new Talisay City Hall will also be closed, while an employee at the Talisay City Health Office’s emergency room and another at the General Services Office will be swabbed for COVID-19. It is expected to reopen on Monday.

Edited by LZB