42 Caloocan hospital personnel get virus

MANILA, Philippines – The Caloocan City Medical Center (CCMC)-South was put on lockdown after 42 of its personnel tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Mayor Oscar Malapitan said yesterday.

In a dzBB interview, Malapitan said among the hospital personnel who tested positive are doctors, nurses and security guards.

The hospital, including the emergency room, was temporarily closed starting Friday until noon on July 23 for disinfection.

Patients already confined may still remain in the hospital during the lockdown, Malapitan said.

He lamented that CCMC-South has exceeded its capacity for COVID-19 patients.

“We encourage patients suspected of having COVID-19 to go to other hospitals for treatment,” Malapitan said.

The outpatient department at the Old City Hall Plaza as well as the Caloocan City North Medical Center will remain open.

Malapitan said the city government aims to conduct 24,000 tests in its mass testing for the next two weeks while Metro Manila is under general community quarantine. The city government conducts mass testing at the People’s Park near the city hall.

Barangays 93 and 38 were also put on lockdown due to rising COVID-19 cases, while a building in Barangay 48 was put under calibrated lockdown, Malapitan added.