Only patients with COVID-19 will be accepted so far by Tala Hospital (Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital) in Tala, Caloocan, Dr. Fritz Famaran, the head of the hospital, said on Monday.
“Sa ngayon, ang ia-admit lang namin, pure COVID patients only,” said Famaran.
According to Famaran, the hospital’s out-patient department (OPD) no longer conducts COVID-19 vaccination for health workers. The inoculation was transferred to a special area.
It is said that additional hospital beds have been placed in the OPD so that more COVID-19 patients can be accepted by the hospital, which is one of the COVID-19 referral facilities in Metro Manila.
According to Famaran, the number of COVID-19 patients admitted to the Tala Hospital increased by 50 percent in the past week.
So far, the hospital has 176 COVID-19 cases but this is still low compared to the number in August last year.
“Mas mabilis ‘yong dami ng pasyente na ina-admit ko last year, compared to this March,” said Famaran.
Famaran believes the number of COVID-19 patients has increased due to more contagious variants of the virus and violations of health protocols.
“It’s more on non-observance ng minimum of 2 meters [physical distance], pumupunta sa mga family gatherings, parties, inuman [and] crowded places like markets, specifically Divisoria,” the doctor said.
Tala Hospital stops accepting non-COVID-19 patients
Famaran also appealed to the public to continue to adhere to health protocols such as the proper wearing of face masks and shields, adherence to physical distancing, and frequent hand washing.
On March 15, 696 Tala Hospital personnel were injected with Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine while 500 were injected with AstraZeneca.
Those vaccinated were not reported to have experienced serious side effects.
The OCTA Research team said the Philippines could record up to 20,000 new COVID-19 cases daily by April if the new surge of infections would not be controlled.
A reproduction number of one or higher indicates a continuous transmission of the virus.
However, the projection could be prevented if the national and local government would continue to implement strict health protocols, localized lockdowns, and curfew hours.