MANILA, Philippines —A total of 88 personnel and patients of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City have tested positive for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to NCMH chief Roland Cortez. In a press briefing, Cortez said that as of Tuesday, 11 employees and a patient had already recovered, leaving 71 NCMH personnel and 17 psychiatric patients positive for COVID-19. A check of the NCMH website showed that in 2015, it had a staff of 1,981, consisting of 116 doctors, 1,020 nursing staff, 160 medical ancillary personnel and 683 administrative support staff. In Manila, the emergency room (ER) of a public hospital was temporarily closed on Tuesday after seven medical front-liners tested positive for COVID-19. Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center director Ted Martin said the ER would be closed until Tuesday next week to give way to its sanitation and disinfection.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 28, 2020 20:03 UTC