MANILA, Philippines— After it exceeded its bed capacity for women who had just given birth by 233 percent, a public hospital in Manila announced that it would limit admissions to mother-to-be with the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) indefinitely.
In a statement on Monday, the Manila public information office said this would allow Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital (JJASGH) to decongest the facility, maintain physical distancing among patients, avoid “potential complications” and protect its staff.
The hospital stopped accepting non-COVID-19 patients into its delivery rooms at 5 p.m. on Saturday, as it asked pregnant women to seek treatment from other medical centers.
According to the JJASGH management, there were six patients waiting to undergo cesarean section in one of the two available operating rooms for deliveries. The other is reserved for COVID-19 patients.
“Even nonduty [obstetrics] doctors are being recalled to help the duty team,” it said.