Quezon hospital’s Ob-Gyne ward temporarily closed as COVID hits staff

LUCENA CITY – The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob-Gyne) of the Quezon Medical Center (QMC) will be temporarily closed due to a surge of infections among its doctors, nurses and midwives.

The QMC management, last Friday announced on social media that the suspension of medical services at the OB-GYN will also include its emergency room, outpatient department and delivery room.

During the lockdown period, however, the OB-GYN department will continue its teleconsultation service.

Dr. Rolando Padre, QMC director, disclosed that of the eight doctors at the OB-GYN, at least six who are waiting for their test results after experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

“Only two do not have symptoms. They are the ones left standing,” he said in a phone interview Saturday morning.

In August 2020, the OB-GYN department was also placed under total lockdown for 15 days due to the rise of COVID-19 cases among its pregnant patients.

Two of their doctors were also infected with COVID-19.

Padre also disclosed that the QMC pediatric department “will most likely also close.”

He said the QMC officials will have an emergency meeting Saturday afternoon.

On Wednesday, January 12, Padre reported that at least five of their doctors and five nurses had tested positive for COVID.

He said the infected health care workers were all fully vaccinated and had booster shots.

They showed mild symptoms and are on home quarantine.

The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), in its 5 P.m. bulletin on Friday, reported that the province now has 1,273 active virus carriers scattered in two cities and 33 municipalities.

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