The occupancy rate of hospitals in Metro Manila has continued to increase due to the spike in COVID-19 cases since March.
At Sampaloc Hospital, 25 rooms reserved for COVID-19 patients will soon be filled. They also have 7 hospital staff who are currently recovering from the virus.
“Mula po noong buwan ng Enero [hanggang] kalahati ng Pebrero, halos wala kaming pasyente. Pagtungtong po ng katapusan ng Pebrero, nagsimula na naman po kaming madagdagan ng mga pasyente… Sa ngayon po, ang naka-admit [ay] 19 sa 25 na in-allot namin na kama para sa COVID,” said Dr. Aileen Lacsamana, hospital director of Ospital ng Sampaloc.
In Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, 27 health workers were affected by COVID-19 but it has not yet affected the hospital’s operation.
Since entering March, COVID-19 cases have also doubled at Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center.
According to the hospital official, one of the possible reasons for the case is the public’s perception of the arrival of vaccines in the country.
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Occupancy rate of Metro Manila hospitals continues to rise
“Parang binibiro po yata ng tadhana na talagang nakipagsabay po sa pag-rollout ng ating bakuna… Nu’ng lumabas ‘yung balita na may bakuna na, na-break natin ‘yung barrier of comfortability natin [sa paghahalubilo],” said Dr. Wenceslao Llauderes, chief of medical professional staff of Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center.
At Navotas City Hospital, the service of the outpatient department was first suspended due to the continuous increase of COVID-19 cases, including hospital employees.
According to Mayor Toby Tiangco, the hospital wards are almost full and he fears that the health workers will not be able to cope with the increasing number of patients.
“Puno na po halos ang mga ward sa ating ospital. Kung patuloy pa pong dadami ang mga nahahawahan ng COVID-19, baka hindi na po kayanin ng ating mga medical frontliner na tugunan ang pangangailangang medikal ng mga pasyente, lalo kung pati sila ay nagkakasakit na rin,” said Tiangco.
The Palace admitted that the health care utilization rate in Metro Manila is becoming critical.
The public has been repeatedly reminded to adhere to minimum public health standards especially now that the virus is spreading faster due to the alleged emergence of new variants of the virus.