HICU ALERT 4: UPDATES ON HCW SURGE & NEW RETURN TO WORK POLICIES: March 21, 2021

KEY MESSAGES:
• We continue to experience a serious surge at the PGH among our HCWs.

PGH HEALTH CARE WORKERS AFFECTED BY COVID

Mar 30, 2020-

Feb28, 2021
(48 weeks)
81% Mar 1-20, 2021 177 HCWs
(3 weeks)
19%

• The total number infected during the three-week period between March 1 – 20, 2021 is already
almost 20% of the entire year’s (51 weeks) morbidity from March 30, 2020 to March 20, 2021
(total N= 923).
• This explosive surge could probably be due to our HCWs also affected and infected by the
ongoing heavy community transmission, probably triggered by the introduction of variants into
our population as well as attributed to various other reasons listed by the government.
• Random samples from PGH (HCWs and patients) sequenced last week representing the period
of March 3-13, 2021 showed that 23 of 29 samples (79%) were either the UK or the South
African variants.
• There was also note of decline in our vigilance of following preventive protocols in our
workplace, particularly proper PPEs, sharing meals, and coming to work even when ill.

WE REALLY NEED TO SECURE AND SHIELD OUR WORKFORCE TO CONTINUE CARING FOR THE SICK.

WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE REMAINING PERSONS WHO ARE STILL UNINFECTED.

WE NEED TO LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER!

SPECIFIC HICU RECOMMENDATIONS: Effective immediately:
1. All frontliners in COVID and nonCOVID areas must continue to follow all our infection control
protocols particularly proper PPEs with the new Level 2 up to Level 4, hand hygiene, and
physical distancing in caring for their patients. Keep updated with COVID test results as well as
daily status of your patients and their watchers.
Variant or not variant, the infection control policies are the same. Do not let our guards down:
COVID or non-COVID. Remain vigilant and always comply to all hospital and HICU protocols!

2. Some areas in PGH may be more vulnerable than others, specially in places with high density of
staff, patients or watchers, and where testing is impossible to do or difficult to operationalize.
These are at the OPD, offices where many persons come and go, and lounges and dining halls
where masks are removed. Special arrangements have been or should be made so that the risks
to all including HCWs and patients are considerably reduced. Again we request Safety Officers to
be on top of these situations.

3. All PGH employees who were detected to have a positive PCR test for SARS CoV2 from March 1,
2021 onwards, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, whether variant or non-variant,
REQUIRES a NEGATIVE swab on the 15th day from onset of symptoms or after the positive test
for asymptomatic individuals before they can be given clearance by UPHS to go back to work.
This new rule will be in place until the current situation is deemed under control by the HICU.

4. All PGH employees who have been assessed to have had HIGH RISK EXPOSURES to COVID-
confirmed cases will remain in quarantine (NOT ALLOWED TO WORK) for 14 days from the high
risk exposure, regardless of the results of the initial swab.
A swab is done at the 5th day for asymptomatic exposed persons, or on the 1st day of symptoms
for those who develop COVID-like manifestations.
For the swab-negative HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS, the swab will be repeated at the 15th day post
exposure. A negative swab will be required to Return to Work.
Swab-positive HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS will be managed as COVID-confirmed HCWs.

5. All PGH employees with HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS with whom they live or visited within the last
3 days from the onset of illness of the household COVID patient are going to be considered as
having HIGH RISK EXPOSURES. They should go on voluntary self-quarantine and not report to
work as soon as exposed to a family member who show symptoms of COVID or are confirmed to
be COVID positive.
Quarantine period is 14 days from the last contact with family/household member with COVID-
19. As above, a NEGATIVE SWAB will be required to Return to Work.
We thus advise HCWs to watch over your families and loved ones during this pandemic and
guide them as well to protect themselves and practice all COVID preventive measures. In the
event someone in your family develops symptoms and are confirmed to be COVID positive, help
 them be able to isolate either in a quarantine facility or hospital as needed, or at home with
your supervision.

6. Persons who continue to have Positive swab results after the recommended isolation period will
remain in isolation. The nasopharyngeal swab will be repeated on the 7th day and every 7th day
until the swab becomes negative.

7. If an area/department/unit/office is documented to have three or more consecutive positive

COVID cases from an identified index case (total 4) over a two-week period, that area will be
advised to close for the next 2 weeks to allow for quarantine, testing and disinfection. To
reopen, the HICU will assess the situation with the specific areas.

8. All PGH employees who were cleared from March 14 to 19, 2021 are recalled back. Please get a
swab prior to clearance back to work. You will be contacted by HICU if you have been identified
to be carrying a COVID variant of concern or a contact of a person with COVID variant of
concern.

9. We ask all staff to always examine yourselves each morning before coming to work and OPT TO
STAY AT HOME IF YOU ARE SICK.
We thank all staff who have heeded this call to self-quarantine in the event of illness. This
positive change of health-seeking behavior and early self-pull out from work/harm reduction has
been noted since March 15, 2021. This led to marked reduction in the number of exposed staff
who requires to be quarantined.

10. We appeal to all PGH employees, trainees and volunteers to reduce your social mobility.
Restrict movement to only essential activities in the next two weeks as advised by the
government. Offices which can work from home are requested to adjust accordingly.

11. For the protection of the staff of the following areas, temporary stoppage of face-to-face
services is recommended until further notice: Division of Nursing Education and Training;
Property and Supply Department; and the OB Ultrasound Unit. Alternative ways to continue
serving their clients will be issued by the respective units.

12. For those who have not yet availed of the COVID-19 vaccination ARE STRONGLY
RECOMMENDED to have themselves vaccinated! The Sinovac vaccine for COVID-19 will be
available for staff on March 22, 2021 at the PGH Atrium.