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MANILA - Some 22 nurses of the Makati Medical Center are in home quarantine following exposure to COVID-19 patients, its medical director said Thursday.

Some health workers have been cleared to go back to work even if they did not complete their 14-day quarantine following some guidelines, according to Dr. Saturnino Javier.

"If you don’t develop symptoms between 5-7 days, and your level of exposure is low to moderate you may be cleared to go back to work but you will still be wearing a mask," he told ANC.

"We cannot strictly enforce the 14 days. Otherwise mauubusan tayo ng personnel."

Javier has said Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, a COVID-19 patient who brought his pregnant wife to the hospital on Tuesday, had exposed 6 to 8 medical personnel to the virus. It was not immediately clear if they are among the hospital's staff under self-quarantine.

The private facility on Tuesday said it has reached its “threshold in its capability to respond to more COVID-19 cases.”

"As early as 3 days ago, we already declared full capacity because we are already nearing the critical mismatch between the number of patients we have and the healthcare personnel who can handle them," he said.

Javier added that the hospital welcomes all donations of masks and personnel protective equipment (PPE).

The premier Makati hospital earlier said its emergency department “will try” to give preliminary evaluation and treatment to patients but “cannot guarantee a room” for admission.