By Joseph B.A. Marzan
After an almost week-long lockdown, St. Paul’s Hospital (SPH) in Iloilo City will gradually reopen to the public, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas confirmed to Daily Guardian via text message on Friday.
The hospital was placed under lock down after several of its medical staff tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Treñas met with city officials and regional officials of the Department of Health (DOH), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to discuss SPH’s case.
Dr. Renilyn Reyes, head of the Public Health Program Development of DOH- Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH-CHD-6), confirmed in a press conference that measures had been undertaken to disinfect the hospital.
“Suggestions and recommendations will be given by the DOH as to the resumption of the operations of St. Paul’s Hospital. Our bases for the reopening are the complete decontamination and disinfection, finished contact tracing, and collection of specimen among identified health workers, other hospital personnel, and some patients,” Reyes said.
Reyes added that the hospital has undertaken steps to ensure its safe reopening and prevention of future risks.
“The St. Paul’s Hospital administration also reviewed their protocols and made certain their amendments. The DOH will provide recommendations as part of the [Western Visayas Regional Task Force on COVID-19], and later on, the [WVRTF] will provide the final document to the hospital,” she said.
The hospital was placed on lockdown on June 28, 2020 after six doctors initially tested positive for COVID-19. Days later, two more doctors and a nurse were also infected.
Daily Guardian has reached out to WVRTF spokesperson Atty. Roy Villa for further comment, but has not responded as of this writing.
