BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The two main government-managed hospitals in Negros Occidental are limiting acceptance of patients due to COVID-19 infection of their staff, as well as nearing full bed allocated capacity.
The management of Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Negros Occidental yesterday temporarily suspended the Obstetrician-Gynecology and Out Patient Department services after four of its doctors and a nurse were tested positive for COVID-19, while 11 other staff at the OB Gyne department who were close contacts were also reactive to antigen testing.
Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, TLJPH chief, disclosed that all of them have shown symptoms. They are now being isolated inside the hospital compound.
This also prompted the TLJPH management to limit admissions only to emergency cases until further notice.
In its issued advisory, TLJPH, however, said that the vaccination will continue, although it will not accept walk-in vaccination clients.
We enjoin the public to please refrain from unnecessary exposure by staying home and observing at least the minimum precautions as cases are beginning to rise in our locality, the advisory added.
On the other hand, the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City also issued an advisory informing the public that its Department of Pediatrics will be limiting admissions to “extreme emergency cases only” in its non-COVID-19 areas, effectively immediately, until further notice.
The allocated beds at the pediatric wards have reached their full capacity at the non-COVID-19 area, while the number of COVID-19 probable patients have increased, resulting in the COVID-19 dedicated beds nearing full capacity.
The CLMMRH management strongly advised local government units and other referring hospitals to call first the COVID-19 hotlines, 0917-100-7093 or 701-7865 for patient transfer.
COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental, excluding the highly-urbanized Bacolod City, rose to 878 as of January 15, compared to its lowest figure of 179 at the start of the year 2022, records of the Provincial Incident Management Team show.*
