AN increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections among health workers forced a government maternity hospital in Manila to close down “until further notice”. Dr. Diana Rose Cajipe, spokesman of the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Medical Hospital, told The Manila Times in a phone interview that the hospital suspended admission and laboratory services starting this Friday and the operations of the outpatient department on Monday after seven of the residents and a nurse had been infected with the virus. Cajipe said contact tracing and mass testing were now being undertaken among all personnel, as well as disinfection of all hospital units for four days until Tuesday. The hospital will reopen pending the results of the swab tests, according to Cajipe. She also assured that the hospital’s medical personnel are wearing personal protective equipment to prevent exposure among mothers and their newborns.

Source: Manila Times October 23, 2020 05:24 UTC