MANILA, Philippines — Thirty-nine staff of the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) in Quezon City have become persons under investigation (PUIs) for the 2019 coronavirus disease after being exposed to a patient positive for the fatal disease who had died in their hospital. ADVERTISEMENTDr. Joel Abanilla, medical director of PHC, said over radio station dzMM that 39 personnel, including 19 nurses and 7 doctors, were placed under mandatory quarantine after interacting with the patient. “Lahat ng nacontact niya (All of her close contacts) from attending to nurses to technicians, lahat yan, we now label them as PUIs,” Abanilla said, noting that around 12 rooms were used for the quarantine of the PUIs. Abanilla lamented that their medical staff, who are PUIs, failed to wear protective gear because initially the patient was only diagnosed for heart disease. The hospital is also conducting contact tracing for the families of the PUIs and the patient, Abanilla said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 13, 2020 12:04 UTC