Alotau Hospital tightens security measures

By PETER ESILA in Alotau
THE Alotau Hospital has stepped up security and Covid-19 preventive measures after a student tested positive on Sunday – the first case in Milne Bay province.
Hospital workers are making sure people entering the gate are directed to the right wards and departments.
Sister Grace Mark, the manager of the internal medicine and critical care unit, said they were taking precautionary measures.
Yesterday, Mark and Emergency Department ward manager Patrick Anthony were screening people entering the hospital.
“Our security guards are manning the gate but we have very few of them. But the hand-washing is maintained,” Mark said.
“When people enter, they wear masks. It started five months ago. But it’s the (screening) that we did not do properly.”
Now that the first case had been confirmed, the hospital management wanted tighter and better control at the gates.