EPDH temporarily closed, 38 hospital staff undergo swab tests
OPERATIONS of the Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital (EPDH) in Tayug town remain suspended since only 68 percent of the swab test results of hospital staff have been released by the Baguio General Hospital as of April 11.
Dr. Anna de Guzman, provincial health officer, said she will wait for the complete results of the hospital personnel’s swab tests before deciding on the resumption of EPDH’s operations.
De Guzman attributed the delay in the release to the results owing to the traditional observance of the Holy Week.
Meanwhile, a disinfection of both inside and outside the hospital is ongoing for the duration of the suspension of the operations, De Guzman said.
Thirty-eight of the hospital staff, including seven doctors, underwent swab tests after a medical doctor working in that place was confirmed positive of COVID-19.
Infected was a 33-year-old female doctor from Binalonan town, one of EPDH’s consultants.
The results of her laboratory test eventually proved negative of COVID-19 and has been advised to observe precautionary measures like wearing masks and gloves while still in isolation at De Guzman’s residence.
But since she was exposed to some of her fellow doctors and nurses in the EPDH, the Department of Health directed the temporary stoppage of the hospital’s operations to facilitate contact tracing.
De Guzman said persons in the area who need hospital confinement for simple cases can be brought to the provincial government’s hospitals in Asingan and Umingan towns.
For complicated cases, she suggested that the patients be brought to Urdaneta District Hospital in Urdaneta City, Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City or at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City. (PhilStar Wire Service/ECV)
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