Coronavirus cases have reached 23 at Hospicio de San Jose over the past few weeks, causing the country’s oldest charitable institution to impose lockdown.

The shelter run by Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul recorded no deaths related to Covid-19 as of Saturday, while those infected are now in isolation.

Sr. Maria Ana Evidente, the Provincial Visitatrix of St. Louise de Marillac-Asia, said that after a self-lockdown on March 15, the institution imposed a stricter protocol on April 21 “to mitigate and contain further infection of Covid-19 to its residents and personnel”.

“All residents of Hospicio are on movement restrictions and are confined in their dormitories,” Sr. Evidente said.

“Having reported these cases to the City Health office of Manila, we are now being monitored by the City Health Emergency Center,” she said.

Established in 1810, the historic institution continues to serve as a foster care facility for orphans, the elderly, those with special needs.

Since they are not allowed to leave the facility, the center finds it hard to make ends meet and sustain the needs of around 500 residents of Hospicio.

“We are grateful to those who responded immediately to the call for support by concerned friends of Hospicio,” Sr. Evidente said.

Those who want to help may drop off or deliver donations directly to:

Name: SR. MARCELITA CATARINA, DC or SR. MARCELITA CATARINA, DC
Address: HOSPICIO DE SAN JOSE, Ayala Bridge, Quiapo, San Miguel, Manila
Mobile No.: +63 908 865 0251 / +63 945 481 8930
e-mail address: mspg.evidente@gmail.com
landline number: 87342366

Cash donations may be sent to:

• • BPI, M.H.DEL PILAR BRANCH, HOSPICIO DE SAN JOSE
    8103-0986-62
  • METROBANK, U.N. AVE.
    HOSPICIO DE SAN JOSE
    175-3-17550678-1

Donors are asked to send a copy of the deposit slip to the following e-mail address: mspg.evidente@gmail.com. Hospicio de San Jose will issue official receipts.