COVID-19 POSITIVE. Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, head of the infectious disease cluster of DOH-CHD 6, confirms in a virtual presser on Saturday (Jan. 9, 2021) that 12 employees of the regional office have tested positive for Covid-19. She said 10 of those affected were essential employees of the department because they are assigned to the surveillance section. (Photo from DOH Facebook live presser)
ILOILO CITY – Some 12 employees of the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD6) tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“Initially, we have three and on the initial result of the first phase of the contact tracing another nine turned positive,” said Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, head of the infectious disease cluster of DOH-CHD6, in a virtual presser on Saturday.
Of the confirmed cases, one each came from the engineering unit and health and promotion office and 10 from the regional epidemiology and surveillance unit (RESU).
However, Juanico said they still have no “concrete findings” as to how the employees contracted the disease as they have just returned to work after the holidays.
She said during the first week of January, some of the employees of the department manifested chills and colds.
During contact tracing, they found out that some employees have reported on weekends to consolidate DOH reports.
“Since our employees are on post-holiday, we still did not know as of this time the exact source of our transmission at the DOH 6,” Juanico said.
The index case tested positive on Thursday and the initial contact tracing was immediately undertaken.
Since 10 of those positive were from the RESU, the agency has come up with plans to make sure that their operations will not be affected.
“Our employees will go on a work from home status as of this time since our initially affected employees were from the critical unit of our surveillance section. Designated persons have been identified, especially those general contacts and second and third level contacts, to be stationed at our regional office,” she added.
All of the 12 patients experienced mild symptoms. One is currently admitted in a hospital, two are in facility quarantine and the rest are on strict home quarantine.
Close contacts in the workplace have been quarantined, Juanico said.
The premises of the DOH CHD6 have been disinfected on Saturday morning.
Juanico said the last confirmed Covid-19 case of the DOH 6 was three months ago. (PNA)
