The Department of Health (DoH) advised health workers to observe precautionary measures amid the threat of the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD).
Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo said that all health workers should wear protective personnel equipment (PPEs) when dealing with patients.
“I strongly advise you to wear protective personnel equipment such as disposable face mask, gown, and gloves when in contact with a patient’s blood, body fluids or secretions, in keeping with the prevailing hospital protocols,” said Domingo.
“I urge you to wash your laundry thoroughly, boost your immunity by taking vitamins, and monitor yourselves for any signs and symptoms. Your health and safety is of paramount concern to the Department,” he added.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III assured that the PPEs will be provided to all health workers.
“That’s one of the first orders of the day when we heightened our infection control, our case management capacities in the hospitals,” he said.
“They are the first ones to be provided with PPEs – that means the goggles, headgear, masks, gloves, gowns or aprons, including the shoe guard – they would have to be the first [to have these] because they need to be protected while taking care of those [patients],” he added.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) also issued guidelines for private sector workplaces in response to the 2019 nCoV ARD.
The DoLE said that all employers must provide information to their workers about the new virus including how it is being transmitted, disease outcome as well as treatment options for their workers.
They must ensure that their workplaces must be cleaned with disinfectant and that water, soap, and sanitizer must always be available in all their washrooms and toilets.
Employers should avoid or reduce direct exposure of their workers to “animals, environments, and objects which may be possibly carrying the 2019-nCoV [ARD].”
Workers should be reminded to stay healthy and keep their workplaces clean.
The DoLE also advised employers to “monitor the health of workers particularly those with fever and other flu symptoms and those who have traveled to or worked in countries affected with the 2019 nCoV [ARD].
Meanwhile, if a worker is suspected to have been afflicted with the new virus, the employer should provide him or her with a face mask to “prevent risk of spreading the infection.” The worker should immediately be isolated in a separate well-ventilated room.
“Refer the worker to the company healthcare provider or to the nearest local health center or hospital for laboratory confirmation if the history, signs and symptoms are consistent with a suspected case of 2019-nCoV ARD,” the DoLE said.
The employer should report it to the Department of Health and “ensure the implementation of recommendations provided by the DoH on the management and transport of suspected case.”
The DoLE also advised employers to observe “respiratory precautions when taking care of patients with flu or flu-like illness.” (Analou de Vera)
