Although Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila is not a COVID-19 referral facility, there are cases of the disease recorded amid the spread of the Delta variant.
“Di katulad ng ibang variant na nakita natin na hindi nahahawa ang mga buntis, ang mga bata, pero ngayon po sa Delta variant hindi po natin ito maiiwasan,” said Dr. Esmeraldo Ilem, medical center chief of the hospital.
According to Ilem, most of their admitted patients with COVID-19 were asymptomatic and mild.
“Dalawa lang ‘yung may mild symptoms at sa mga baby naman po, ang nag-positive, isa lang po out of 18 tests na ginawa sa mga batang ipinanganak,” said Ilem.
In an interview with TeleRadyo, Ilem said they have sent home many patients with COVID-19 who have recovered and completed their isolation or transferred to other temporary treatment and monitoring facilities.
Most COVID-19 patients at Fabella Hospital asymptomatic or mild
“Kami po ay isang tertiary hospital for maternal and newborn care. Kami po talaga ang tumatanggap ng mga buntis, manganganak. Bago po mag-surge medyo halos konti na lang ang na-aadmit na may COVID na buntis. Ngayon po, understandably, dahil po may surge kasama po ang mga nanay na buntis sa nahahawa,” he said.
He also said that they could not stop receiving patients because most of those who come to them are walk-ins and emergency cases.
“Dahil kami po ay hindi COVID referral facility, COVID accepting hospital, pero kami po ay referral facility for high-risk pregnancy. Marami po ang nangangailangan na wala pong COVID pero mga premature, nahirapan sa kanilang panganganak, inire-refer sa amin ito at paglabas ng mga bata kailangan po ng intensive care,” he said.
They also worry about the hospital staff who get sick with COVID-19.
“Ang medyo nagiging problema lang ‘yung pagkakahawa-hawa ng personnel na hindi naman maiiwasan although sa pag-aaral namin, karamihan nanggagaling sa community, sa kanilang pag-uwi. Merong papasok na meron na palang exposure, meron na palang sintomas at mahahawa ang kanilang kapwa empleyado,” said Ilem.
Ilem, on the other hand, advised those who go to their hospital to contact their respective barangays first.
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