200 healthcare workers in South Cotabato put on quarantine
KORONADAL CITY –– The medical community in South Cotabato warned Thursday of a possible collapse of the healthcare system in the province as some 200 healthcare workers were quarantined for possible coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection.
Dr. Rachelle Uy, president of the South Cotabato Medical Society (SCMS), said they were alarmed by the rapid surge of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province, which had been under an extended modified general community quarantine status for months now.
“We believe that we need to do drastic measures to slow down the transmission of the virus to prevent an unwanted collapse of our hospital system,” Uy said.
“(We are) asking for (the IATF to put it under) ECQ to halt the movement of people and slow down, if not prevent, the further spread of the virus in our locality,” Uy added.
At least 131 healthcare workers, who have been quarantined, come from this city, including 36 of the 55 personnel of the City Health Office.
Koronadal is the capital of South Cotabato and the Region 12 seat of government, SCMS data showed.
In Polomolok town, 49 staff embers of the Bontuyan Medical Clinic and Hospital and 20 of the Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital have been quarantined, the same SCMS data revealed.
In Region 12, also known as Soccsksargen, South Cotabato recorded the highest confirmed COVID-19 cases with 231 cases as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 9.
General Santos City has 132 patients, Sarangani has 107, Sultan Kudarat with 87, Cotabato City with 84, and North Cotabato, 73 patients.
Region 12 has a total of 714 COVID-19 cases, 325 of them active, 16 deaths, and 372 recoveries, it added.
LZB
For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.
