THIRTY-SIX employees and patients of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City tested positive for Covid-19 while three patients succumbed to the disease, an official of the institution said on Wednesday.
As this developed, the Department of Health (DOH) repoeted 106 new cases (PH3765-PH3870) of Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country at 3,870 as of April 8.
The DOH also announced 12 new recoveries. This brings the total number of recoveries to 96.
Meanwhile, the DOH recorded five new deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 182.
Dr. Roland L. Cortez, NCMH Chief II, meanwhile, said that 325 people in the mental health center were considered as patients under investigation (PUIs).
Data provided to BusinessMirror showed that as of 4 p.m. of April 7, at least 30 employees; 5 doctors; 1 psychologist;19 nurses; 3 engineers; 1 administrative staff; 1 dietary personnel and six patients were infected.
Of the number, 19 are under home quarantine while 11 are admitted in different hospitals.
Of the PUIs, 296 employees underwent home quarantine while 29 patients were isolated at Pavilion 7.
Cortez said that currently, the institution is “maximizing their resources” to cope with the situation.
Instead of an 8-hour shift, their personnel now are forced to render 12-hour duty.
“We opened a temporary shelter within the institution to conserve the time travel of staff, specially those living in lock down areas,” Cortez told BusinessMirror.
He added that they also “conserve” their personal protective equipment, limiting these to those Iidentified as major frontliners, while n-95 masks plus face shields are provided to those serving in areas where infections is not severe.
“We didn’t adhere to [having just a] skeletal force, as hospital treatment and patient surge is erratic. And we gave monetary payments (to those) who went on duty beyond the prescribed time to incentivize our health workers,” the NCMH chief said adding that they also provided food to those on night duty.
Cortez described the situation of NCMH as, “stressful,” adding, “… but we must work well.”