Visitor infects 122 at QC orphanage
ONE visit caused the widespread transmission of the COVID-19 virus to at least 122 children and personnel of an orphanage in Quezon City.
Dr. Rolando Cruz, City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit chief, said an asymptomatic adult allegedly visited the Gentlehands Orphanage in Barangay Bagumbuhay and unknowingly brought the virus, which caused the outbreak.
Of the 122 who were tested positive of COVID-19, 99 are children ages 18 and below.
After receiving the report, Mayor Joy Belmonte reiterated her call on the management of workplaces and other high-risk closed facilities to strictly implement minimum public health protocols to avoid outbreaks of COVID-19.
“Mariin nating ipinapaala na ang hindi pagsunod o hindi pagpapatupad ng minimum public health protocols ay paglabag sa RA 11332. Dapat maging mahigpit ang ating persons in authority sa pagpapatupad nito para maiwasan natin ang pagkalat ng virus,” Belmonte stressed.
She added that the outbreak could have been prevented and “the children could have been saved from the life-threatening risks of COVID.”
“Kailangang mapanatili ng mga ganitong closed long-term care facilities ang mahigpit na protocols dahil kahit isang kaso lang ang makapasok sa kanila ay madaling mahahawa ang lahat,” Cruz said.
The Office of the City Mayor, on the other hand, swiftly attended to the needs of the facility by sending paracetamol, vitamins, hygiene kits, face masks, alcohol, and food packs.
Belmonte also instructed the CESU to closely monitor everyone’s health, especially of the children, and to do active surveillance of other closed settings such as nursing homes.
“Patuloy nating papalawigin ang ating swab testing at contact tracing program para maabot ang mga gaya nitong high-risk closed facilities,” said Belmonte.
