MARAMAG, BUKIDNON PROVINCE– After probable Covid-19 transmission among its patients and medical staff, health officials in this city ordered the temporary lockdown of Maramag Hospital, a branch of the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital.
Dr. Edmundo G. Garcia, Bukidnon Provincial Hospital-Maramag Chief of Hospital II, issued a warning on June 6, 2021, stating that the 130-bed capacity hospital will not be taking admissions while they disinfect the facility and do contact tracing for Covid-19 virus infection.
“In this regard, the hospital will not be able to accept admissions temporarily,” Garcia said.
Garcia also suspended face-to-face consultation from June 8 until further notice.
“In line with the current Covid-19 situation in our province and with the ongoing
disinfection of some areas of the hospital, outpatient face-to-face consultation is hereby
suspended temporarily effective June 8, 2021, until further notice,” Garcia said.
“However, patients may still avail medical consultation via telemedicine; consultation conducted through mobile phone calls and short messaging service (SMS). Telemedicine services allow patients to secure medical advice without leaving their homes,” Garcia added.
BPH-Maramag’s Animalbite treatment center is the only section of the hospital to continue to operate but patients are advised to strictly observe health protocols.
Garcia, in a text message, said that disinfection is ongoing and they may be start admission today June 9 if the disinfection is done but it still depends on the proportion of available nurses.
“30 plus of our personnel are in quarantine because of exposure to Covid-19 virus,” Garcia added.
According to Bukidnon Provincial Health Office, as of June 8, 2021, Maramag has 111 active Covid-19 cases placing them in 4th place in Bukidnon with the highest number of active cases.