The couple who tested positive for COVID-19 in the city is now admitted, along with their kids, in the Southern Philippines Medical Center.
Mayor Sara Duterte said that based on the update given by the Department of Health (DOH), the couple requested to be admitted in a hospital.
“To be honest, for me, I disagree with the decision to admit these COVID-19 positive patients in the hospital, as they were already quarantined at home when they were still persons under investigation before they tested positive. What could’ve been done is to provide policeman to man their residence and ensure they will not go outside,” she said.
In the end, she relented, especially since neighbors are getting anxious that the couple is still staying in their home.
On Saturday, March 21, the DOH confirmed the results for the couple, who both had a travel history to Metro Manila. Both are asymptomatic as of the moment.
Meanwhile, the SPMC has suspended its Outpatient Department (OPD) as a precautionary measure amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In its Facebook post, the SPMC management said that OPD operations and all elective surgical cases are suspended beginning March 23 until further notice.
Suspended services include consultation/examination at OPD in Jica Building, except for consultation or examinations conducted for SPMC employees.
They also suspended those who have already have schedules for OPD Jica. The Health Services and Specialty Services department has also been suspended except for the SPMC employees’ drug testing, consultation, and examination.
Some operations will continue to operate especially during emergencies, but the triage will only be receiving patients from 7 a.m. to 12 noon.
These services include the Personnel Health Services (PHS), scheduled drug testing and medical certificate issuance for SPMC employees only, the Institute for Women and Newborn Health (IWNH), Children’s Cancer Institute, and Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine (IPBM), Heart Institute, HACT, Tubercolosis Directly Observed Treatment Short-Cause, and the Animal Bite and Treatment Center.
“We are all taking the necessary precautions for us to manage moderate, severe, and critical persons under investigation (PUI) and COVID-19 patients as (SPMC is) the identified center for COVID-19,” SPMC chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega said in a previous report, adding that there has been an increasing number of PUIs in the city.
SPMC management has also implemented a hotline for consultations. A call-ahead-before-visiting order has been implemented.
For COVID-19 concerns: Call 227-2731 local 5000
Smart, Sun and TNT: 0939 613 3779
0939 613 3767
Globe: 0977 658 9829
For OPD concerns: Smart, TNT and Sun – 0939 613 3810
SPMC hotline number after 5 p.m.:
For COVID-19 concerns: 227-2731 local 5000
Smart, Sun and TNT: 0929 955 8999
Globe: 0927 087 7780
