The numbers of local health care workers at public hospitals that have been sent home with symptoms of the new coronavirus continues on the rise. This is affecting the public hospitals at a time when demand for their services is at a maximum due to the epidemic.
Dr. Manuel Elpidio Gil of the Morillo King Regional Hospital in La Vega confirmed that several of his staff is infected, but he did not provide numbers.
In Santo Domingo, the nurses at the Francisco Moscoso Puello Hospital complained that at least 15 of their personnel have the coronavirus. They attribute this to a notable lack of protective and disposable medical clothing, needed when treating patients with contagious diseases. The nurses’ representative told reporters from the Diario Libre that they were only given three kits of protective clothing for the ten nurses on duty each shift. She called for goggles, medical masks, and gowns, for everyone. The nurse also noted that in the triage area of incoming patients with suspected Covid-19 symptoms, the hospital is not applying the rapid response test to determine whether or not the patient being admitted has the virus.
The Ministry of Defense is installing sanitizing tunnels at the entrance to several hospitals as a way to prevent further spread of the disease through contact. The tunnels will use Bardac 22 in atomizers for the 3-5 seconds it takes to walk through the 10 feet of tunnel length.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
El Caribe
Diario Libre
13 April 2020