COVID-19 referral hospitals, facilities feel spike of cases

Some COVID-19 referral hospitals in Manila have already felt the increase in cases of the disease in recent weeks.

According to their medical chief Alfonso Nunez, in East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City, bed utilization is now at 80 percent.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Sinusukat namin ‘yung aming data doon sa utilization rate namin. At mga 2 weeks ago, yung aming bed utilization rate ay nasa 40 hanggang 50 percent. Ngayon kasi, umaabot na ito ng mga 75 hanggang 80 porsiyento. So masasabi namin talagang tumaas ‘yung mga COVID-19 related patient na pumupunta sa aming ospital at na-aadmit dito,” said Nunez on the program “Sakto” on Tuesday.

Nunez said they are comfortable that there will be no shortage of medical oxygen supply.

“We are currently upgrading yung aming oxygen generating plant… Nag-stockpile na kami ng mga oxygen tank and naglalagay na kami ng isang secondary system… Kapag na-upgrade namin ito, palagay ko kaya namin bigyan ng oxygen yung mga katabi namin hospital, at a certain limit lang,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

EAMC said they upgraded their systems before the expected swell of cases due to the Delta variant.

Meanwhile, Philippine General Hospital spokesperson Dr. Jonas Del Rosario that the surge in hospital admissions at their facility is “consistent”.

COVID-19 referral hospitals, facilities feel spike of cases

But, he said, they still have enough capacity and oxygen supply.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We’re a little bit mga 60 percent capacity. Sa ngayon, may sapat naman pong oxygen na naibibigay sa mga pasyente. So Hydro-oxygen, meron pa naman po,” said Del Rosario.

According to the Department of Health, the healthcare utilization rate in the region is still “manageable,” but critical care utilization is rising.

For the DOH, the COVID-19 situation nationwide is still in the low-risk category, although it is also close to moderate risk.

“In other words, ito ‘yung sinasabi namin na hindi natin sisisihin itong pagtaas ng active cases. Baka mangyari nanaman ‘yung wave nung last March or April, napakarami ng pumasok sa ospital at na-overwhelm,” said Vega.

According to the Manila Health Department, their COVID-19 field hospital is already 72 percent occupied.

Visit our Facebook page for more  updates.