COVID-19 isolation facilities in Laguna already full

Some major isolation facilities for patients with COVID-19 in Laguna are already full.

This includes the LIGTAS COVID Center in Cabuyao City, Laguna, jointly run by the local and national governments.

Patients from Laguna and neighboring provinces are welcomed at the LIGTAS COVID Center.

The capacity of the facility is at 80 people, but it was filled 2 weeks ago.

According to facility manager Dr. CJ Cofreros, “palit-ulo” is practiced in the facility where when a patient recovers and leaves, only then will a new patient be received.

So far, there are 20 queuing to be admitted to the facility.

According to Cofreros, there is also a lack of facilities for health workers because only 3 nurses and up to 2 doctors are on duty per shift.

Two weeks duty and 2 weeks day off are the implemented system for health workers there.

The health workers there have reportedly received their 6-month special risk allowance but are still waiting for the hazard pay.

COVID-19 isolation facilities in Laguna already full

The situation at the regional COVID-19 isolation facility in Calamba, which also receives patients from other Calabarzon provinces, is very similar to the situation at the Cabuyao center.

The regional facility has a capacity of 399 beds but is also waiting for the bed to be vacated before accepting another patient.

There were also 3 cases of the more contagious Delta variant present at the facility.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Laguna tripled in August, according to the province’s local health office.

According to Laguna Provincial Health Officer Dr. Rene Bagamasbad, they have 7,800 active cases, from 2,400 to 2,500, in recent months.

The high number of cases still comes from the cities in Laguna.

Up to 80 percent of COVID-19 cases in Laguna have mild symptoms or no symptoms that are only home quarantine, so this is said to be the reason for the rapid increase in cases.