There are now fewer COVID-19 patients in hospitals alongside the continuing decline in the number of those infected with the disease.
For example, at St Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC), there will be no more than 20 COVID-19 patients. This is because the total number of COVID-19 beds in SLMC is 120, which was previously filled.
There are only 5 to 8 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) of SLMC, far from the previous 24.
“‘Yong nasa ICU ay are all critical. Severe and critical iyon. But the rest, they’re really moderate lang,” said Dr. Benjamin Campomanes, executive vice president at a chief medical officer of SLMC.
According to Campomanes, the number of non-COVID patients is increasing now, but this is only natural because patients avoid going to hospitals while there are many cases of COVID-19.
“Those who waited for a long time are now coming into the hospital to have treatment,” he explained.
Only 18 percent or 96 of the 520 COVID-19 beds are occupied at the Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial (Tala) Hospital in Caloocan City.
According to Tala Hospital medical chief Dr. Fritz Famaran, the hospital’s outpatient department is now open to address non-COVID patients.
Number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals dropped
“At the moment, the number of patients dramatically decreased,” he said.
It is said that the number of cases dropped in the first week of October.
From 30 to 40 patients per day, it only reaches 3 to 4 at Tala Hospital.
About 70 percent of those taken to the hospital are still not vaccinated against COVID-19.
At the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City, there are no more patients in the COVID-19 emergency room (ER) and ER extension.
The COVID-19 occupancy rate in the NKTI was 41 percent or 50 out of 122 beds but rose to 85 percent or 60 out of 71 beds occupied by non-COVID patients.
The same is happening at the Imus Hospital in Cavite, where up to 100 percent of non-COVID patients are in the emergency room and ward, according to Jennifer Roamar, the hospital’s chief of the clinic.
According to the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, less than 60 percent of hospital use nationwide is in the “safe” classification.
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