The Philippine Orthopedic Center said Saturday it was temporarily shutting its out-patient department and suspending scheduled surgeries after 117 of its 180 staff tested positive for COVID-19.
The Quezon City-based hospital that specializes in bone disorders said that it had been servicing 350-450 out patients per day through the quarantine.
COVID-positive staff will be isolated, the remaining workforce will be tested and the second dose of Sinovac vaccines for frontliners will be administered, the POC said in a statement.
Patients are encouraged to consult online via its Facebook page.
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The Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 will meet later Saturday to determine whether or not the lockdown or ECQ that affectes 24 million people in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces will be extended beyond Sunday, April 4.
On Friday, the Department of Health confirmed some 15,000 cases, including backlogs of 3,700 from two days prior, underscoring the severity of the surge in infections that is threatening the health system.
