Hospitals are now increasing their capacity for non-COVID patients in tandem with the decline in those affected by COVID-19.
One of these is the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, which is now converting former COVID wards into non-COVID wards.
“Katakot-takot ang linis niyan. Ang pag-disinfect ng COVID to non-COVID will take two to three times paulit-ulit compared to the usual,” said Lung Center spokesperson Dr. Norberto Francsico.
The Lung Center has left only one COVID ward and one intensive care unit-capable area due to the decrease in the number of COVID-19 patients.
The situation is similar with other public hospitals that have added capacity to non-COVID patients.
“Nagkaroon po kami ng pagkakataon para buksan po ‘yung ibang wards para ma-cater na po ‘yung mga non-COVID patients na napakarami pong dumarating sa PGH ngayon,” said Philippine General Hospital (PGH) spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario.
“Bukas na po ‘yong aming emergency medicine department, outpatient department. Naga-admit na rin po kami ng non-COVID patients po,” said Dr. Alfonso Victorino Famaran Jr., medical chief of Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium at Tala, Caloocan.
The situation is also improving in some provinces.
Some hospitals increase capacity for non-COVID patients
In Imus, Cavite, an isolation facility was closed because there were no more patients, and its employees were transferred to the hospital.
Of the remaining 12 active COVID-19 cases in Imus on Wednesday, all were asymptomatic or mild.
The Department of Health (DOH) in Calabarzon also sees the same trend in the region, where many hospitals report having days without COVID-19 patients.
On the other hand, hospitals have ensured their preparedness in case the number of patients increases again in the face of the threat of the Omicron variant.
Based on other countries’ experience, the Philippines’ improving situation may change if Omicron spreads, which is said to be more contagious.
“Kung matatapatan ng Omicron ang Delta, kahit gaano kaganda ‘yong sitwasyon ng isang bansa ay talagang mataas pa rin ‘yong magiging risk,” said ABS-CBN Data Analytics head Edson Guido.
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