Moreno ready to make room for COVID-19 patients in Manila City hospitals

MANILA, Philippines — Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Thursday said they will provide immediate assistance to COVID-19 patients who can no longer be accommodated in some hospitals due to full capacity.

In a press conference also attended by National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. at the Manila City Hall, Moreno also said that “the approach of COVID-19 is a universal approach.”

“Modesty aside, whether they are coming from private hospitals that cannot accommodate anymore, we would be happy to be of service.. most likely with our sister hospitals,” Moreno said in mixed Filipino and English.

The press conference was for the turnover of more than 10,000 pieces of personal protective equipment from the National Task Force against COVID-19  to the Manila City government.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, head of Adult Infectious Diseases Department Head of San Lazaro Hospital, earlier told Teleradyo that its COVID-19 ward is “almost full.”

He said 52 of its 65-bed capacity were already occupied. He also noted that they are treating mostly moderate to severe cases of the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

But Galvez said hospitals should only accommodate severe cases of COVID-19.

“Hindi talaga tumatangap ang hospital ng mild and y’ung asymptomatic cases kasi nire-reserve ang hospital sa severe [cases]. Dapat malaman ng public [na] ang mild at asymptomatic [cases] dun sa temporary quarantine area lang,” he explained in the same press conference.

(Hospitals are not really accepting mild and asymptomatic cases because hospitals are reserved for severe cases. The public should know that mild and asymptomatic cases are only accommodated in a temporary quarantine area.)

Health Assistant Regional Director Dr. Paz Corrales said asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 cases can be treated at mega quarantine facilities.

“Ang mga hospitals hindi tumatanggap ng mga mild lang po. Marami tayong mega-quarantine facilities na maaaring ilagay ang pasyenteng mild at asymptomatic… Hindi pwedeng magsasama-sama dahil iniiwasan natin ang transmission,” she said during the press briefing.

(Hospitals are not accepting mild cases. We have many mega quarantine facilities where mild, asymptomatic patients can be accommodated. We can’t merge them all because we are avoiding transmission.)

KGA