The occupancy rate of hospitals in Oriental Mindoro is already at a critical level due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the province, the provincial governor said Monday.
According to Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor, the UK variant of COVID-19 has already entered his province.
“Ang atin pong ICU bed ngayon, halos puno na. Noong isang linggo po 92 percent, ang isolation bed natin 90 percent okupado na, kung hindi natin mapapababa ito patuloy itong mapapuno,” said Dolor.
“Hindi lang po COVID-19 cases ang kailangang ipasok sa ICU. Marami po tayong may sakit na kababayan, inatake sa puso, mga dina-dialysis, mga critical, mga taong naaksidente. At kung hindi natin iiwasan ang patuloy na pagtaas ng COVID-19 sa ating lalawigan, mapupuno ang ating mga ospital.”
According to official records, Oriental Mindoro has more than 300 active cases of COVID-19, although it is gradually declining. Calapan city has the highest number with more than 100 cases.
More than 1,600 cartridges from the DOH are expected to arrive for use in the COVID-19 testing but the testing will be delayed because three personnel assigned to the laboratory also tested positive for the disease.
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Hospitals in Oriental Mindoro at critical level: governor
Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases, Dolor ordered restrictions on entry into Oriental Mindoro. All returning to the province must obtain a travel coordination pass to the towns and cities to which they return.
The travel pass will also be displayed at the Batangas and Calapan piers.
Upon arrival in the hometown, it is necessary to undergo an anti-gen test but it is not necessary if a negative result of the RT-PCR test is shown.
All tourists from “NCR Plus” and areas with the COVID-19 variant are prohibited from entering Oriental Mindoro unless they have an RT-PCR test negative result.
The province also strictly enforces the curfew from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.
The Department of Health reported 11,378 new cases and 204 new deaths on April 12. The Philippines has a total of 876,225 COVID-19 cases, 703,625 recoveries, and 15,149 deaths.