BAGUIO, Apr. 29 (PIA)– With the expanded mass testing already started in the region, the Department of Health expects an increase in COVID-19 cases and advises the public not to be alarmed but to continue to practice and implement the required health and safety prevention measures in their homes and in the community.
DOH – CAR OIC Regional Director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, in an online media briefing Tuesday, said the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center has started implementing the expanded mass testing over the weekend and the 26 confirmed cases last April 24 (Friday) increased to 42 in its April 27 data.
Of the 42 confirmed cases, 23 are admitted in health facilities, 18 already recovered and 1 recorded death. Of the 23 active cases, 16 are from Baguio City, six from Benguet and one from Ifugao.
With health workers included in the priority for the mass testing along with the suspect cases with severe symptoms and critical medical condition, Pangilinan shared that the new confirmed cases include nine health workers bringing to 15 the number of health workers infected with COVID–19 (the number includes two patients who already recovered).
The 15 health workers infected included four doctors and four nurses. 12 are from the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center and one each from the Baguio City Health Services Office, Benguet General Hospital and the Cordillera Hospital of the Divine Grace in La Trinidad, Benguet.
Pangilinan said the implementation of mass testing will help the region in bringing out the true picture of the COVID-19. She also reminded the public to continue practicing infection control and prevention measures at home.
On the expanded mass testing, BGHMC Center Director Dr. Ricardo Ruñez reported that they are already using two RT–PCR machines and two more that are undergoing calibration with five medical technologists running the laboratory tests.
Ruñez disclosed that as BGHMC is catering to laboratory confirmatory testing of specimens from Regions 1, 2 and CAR even though running the machines at full capacity, it still has 554 backlog specimens and their test kits are down to 1,500. He said they are waiting for more test kits from the RITM.
Meantime, Ruñez said that BGHMC’s COVID–19 services will be on regular operations as all front liners are in good health despite the presence of thosethat tested positive of the virus as they are not part of the COVID ward.
He also assured that infection control and prevention measures are already being implemented at BGHMC and that though they have scaled down their operations especially in the outpatient department, he assured that BGHMC will not turn down any emergency medical case.** JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
