Allied Medical Center Medical Center (ACEMC) issues a statement to clarify the reports of a Covid-infected employee who allegedly “escaped”from the quarantine facility.
The statement was posted on Facebook and was signed by ACEMC president Dr. Ronald Ramiro. The statement was posted in the evening of Monday, June 15, 2020.
Ramiro said, “The personnel (sic) involved did not actually escape from the quarantine. We APOLOGIZE for the anxiety caused by this event.”
He continued by saying that, “The concerned staff went to Panglao (on) June 1, 2020, his day off to attend to his mother’s birthday. He returned to Panglao on June 5, 2020, another day off to visit his mother. His quarantine started late afternoon of June 6, 2020 and is still in the facility quarantine.”
“ Personnel (sic) concerned, a NURSING ASSISTANT, had short contact with the patient and relatives on May 26, 2020 and May 31, 2020 while doing usual work assignment of taking vital signs,” Ramiro in the statement said.
Furthermore, Ramiro bared, “The 65-year-old patient from Dao was admitted in ACEMC Bohol on May 25, 2020. Swab test was done the following day. The positive RT-PCR result was received by ACEMC Bohol only June 4, 2020 late afternoon. Immediately, contact tracing was done by our IPCN (Infection Prevention and Control Nurse).”
Moreover, Ramiro explained, “All the concerned personnel were categorized according the WHO Health Worker Exposure risk assessment and management tool. All high-risk personnel in the group were called for mandatory quarantine.”
The statement further reads, “The CHO (City Health Office) swabbed all the 34 concerned personnel on June 6 and 7, 2020. Among these only two of the thirty results returned positive on June 12, 2020. We are still awaiting results of four more quarantined staff.”
Ramiro added that, “The concerned staff was initially low risk based on WHO Health Worker Exposure risk assessment and management tool but later in the afternoon of June 6, 2020 he complained of chilly sensation and submitted himself for swabbing and mandatory quarantine. And he was then categorized as high risk and currently in quarantine. At present the concerned staff does not manifest any symptoms.”
The hospital issued a statement following allegations that the Covid-positive medical worker allegedly disobeyed protocol and “escaped” quarantine to attend a birthday party.
It was reported that the Tagbilaran city government is looking at possibilities of filing legal action against the medical worker who allegedly “escaped” from quarantine.
The medical worker is one of two from ACEMC who had contact with the 65-year-old erstwhile Covid-positive patient from Barangay Dao.
The results of the two medical workers were released on June 12, 2020.