Baguio hospital stops accepting patients after 8 health workers test positive for COVID-19

The Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) has stopped accepting new patients following the confirmation of 8 healthcare workers, including 3 doctors, testing positive for COVID-19.

BGHMC medical chief Dr. Ricardo Runez, Jr. stated this was a "tough and crucial decision to break the unceasing transmission of the virus".

This brings the total number of BGH health workers who tested positive in the past two days to eight, with the newly infected individuals including a 61-year-old doctor, a 27-year-old nurse, and two 34-year-old female nursing attendants.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong confirmed that three of the four patients reside in BGH Compound, Camp 8, and Sto. Nino Road Bakakeng Central, which were placed under lockdown.

The nurse is from Wangal, La Trinidad.

In total, there are now 15 Baguio residents hospitalized for the coronavirus disease, with Benguet having 3 positive cases.

The city has expanded its RT-PCR testing to include asymptomatic individuals fitting risk-based testing criteria, and hospital administrators are required to submit a list of their staff members for testing.