Hospicio de San Jose in lockdown due to 23 COVID-19 cases, asks for donations

The Hospicio de San Jose in Manila is in lockdown due to 23 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patients.

It was confirmed to GMA News Online on Thursday by one of the welfare institution’s student-volunteers via phone call.

According to Jenebeth Paniterce, 15 health staff members, 6 elderly residents, and 2 student-volunteers had contracted the virus since they started testing on April 15.

One of the senior citizens had succumbed to the disease while three were taken to the hospital earlier Thursday.

As of writing, they have 22 active COVID-19 cases who are all isolated in two areas of the orphanage.

Swab tests are still ongoing until all 450 individuals in the compound have been tested. Paniterce said they had not yet traced where the virus started.

To ensure the safety of residents, no one is allowed to leave Isla de Convalecencia, where the shelter is located.

With this, the Hospicio de San Jose is asking for donations to keep them afloat.

Preferred donations are in-kind goods such as canned food, infant meals, milk for babies, toddlers and adults, rice, bread, and noodles.

They would also appreciate hygiene kits including diapers, medicine, and medical equipment like personal protective equipment (PPE) and face masks. 

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño - Tondo Manila also issued the call for donations in a Facebook post. 

“They are running out of food because nobody is donating to them and the sisters are worried about the children and elders. They are appealing to your kind generosity,” read the post.

Donations may be given directly to Sister Marcelita Catarina D.C. at Hospicio de San Jose, Ayala Bridge, Quiapo, San Miguel, Manila.

She may be reached at 09088650251, 09454818930, and mspg.evidente@gmail.com.

Monetary donations may also be sent through BPI M.H. Del Pilar branch, Hospicio de San Jose (8103-0986-62) or Metrobank UN Avenue branch, Hospicio de San Jose (175-3-17550678-1).

Donors are requested to email their deposit slips to mspg.evidente@gmail.com so they can be issued an official receipt.

For inquiries, Hospicio de San Jose may also be reached at 87342366. 

On Thursday, the Department of Health reported 8,276 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total tally to 1,028,738. – With Consuelo Marquez/RC, GMA News