Hospicio de San Jose Seeks Help After Recording 103 COVID Cases

Church-run orphanage Hospicio de San Jose is appealing for help after recording 103 COVID cases, 49 of them children, administrator Sr. Corrie Evidente said on Wednesday.

The youngest of the COVID-stricken children is three years old, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said. They are showing signs of recovery and are due for swab tests within the week, Evidente said.

"It's very encouraging that they are recovering. Mga lola na lang talaga, the latest cases we had two days ago, 21 of them, 'yun na lang talaga may on and off na symptoms," she told TeleRadyo on Wednesday.

The infected children are isolated in three dormitories in the island orphanage with caretakers, some of whom are also positive for the coronavirus. The oprhanage is short-staffed after more than a third contracted COVID-19, Evidente said.

"We hold on to our faith, nakikita naman namin na our patients are not getting worse."

She thanked those who sent aid to the facility. Donations are still welcome and can be dropped off at its security office, especially those that can already be cooked as the management have to feed 450 residents under lockdown.

Cash aid is also welcome to help pay for hospital bills and hazard pay for workers.

"First of all, I am really very grateful to all those concerned citizens. That's also a source of strength kasi isang balita lang, kaagad-agad marami nang nag-text, marami nang nag-send ng pera, it's overwhelming."

Those who want to give cash donations may send it to:

• BPI, M.H.DEL PILAR BRANCH, HOSPICIO DE SAN JOSE
  8103-0986-62
• METROBANK, U.N. AVE.
  HOSPICIO DE SAN JOSE
  175-3-17550678-1

Donors are asked to send a copy of the deposit slip to the following e-mail: mspg.evidente@gmail.com.