The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) door has been closed for other diseases to expand its operations to those affected by COVID-19.
This is after the hospital had 262 COVID-19 patients, beyond the ward capacity of 250.
Only “real emergencies” or “life-and-limb threatening non-COVID” emergencies such as trauma, heart attack, and massive stroke will be accepted by the hospital in Manila.
Only the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Cancer Institutes will remain open, but telephone or online consultation will continue.
“Na-decide na po namin na magbukas pa ng ilang wards at isara po ‘yong non-COVID part kasi po kailangan na nating hatakin ‘yong ibang mga tao namin,” said PGH Spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario.
PGH is one of the many hospitals in the country that continues to fill up due to the kick-off of COVID-19 cases.
In the past week or from Aug. 8 to 14, the average number of new COVID-19 cases per day hit 11,283. This is the highest 7-day moving average since the pandemic began.
The National Capital Region has the highest recorded daily case, at 3,067, according to ABS-CBN Data Analytics.
This was followed by Calabarzon with 2,141 average daily new cases and Central Luzon with 1,489 cases.
Cases in the 3 regions increased by more than 40 percent in the past week.
PGH no longer accepting non-COVID cases
There are also more than 1,000 new cases every day in Central Visayas, while more than 600 in Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao.
Cavite, Laguna, and Bulacan still lead the provinces with the highest daily cases.
In Naga, Camarines Sur, the Bicol Medical Center was slightly relieved due to the declining number of patients in the COVID-19 ward, which now stands at 31.
But he said preparations continue, such as ensuring adequate medical supply and hiring employees.
Although almost 90 percent of the intensive care unit and 84 percent of the COVID-19 wards are still occupied, the number of patients at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City is reportedly declining.
He said there is an incoming modular hospital with 84 beds, a new oxygen plant, additional nurses and doctors from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and many new employees are also applying.
According to OCTA Research, the rise in new cases in the country is likely to continue until next week.
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