MANILA, Philippines — Former senator JV Ejercito warned the public to stay safe from COVID-19 because hordes of patients seeking medical assistance have taken over many hospitals, as his father, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, was forced to spend the night at a hospital’s emergency room.
Estrada was rushed to a hospital on Sunday afternoon, according to Ejercito on Twitter. He said that no space was available at the time, so the former president was forced to spend the night in the emergency room.
Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada confirmed that the former president contracted COVID-19 and was rushed to the hospital due to body weakness.
READ: COVID-19 hits former President Joseph Estrada
“Hospitals are really full, my father was rushed yesterday afternoon, but stayed overnight at the emergency room because no room was available. Luckily by 11am they were able to give him a room already,” Ejercito said in a tweet.
“Kaya ingat talaga! Hospitals having a hard time, almost full occupancy,” he added.
Hopsitals are really full, my father was rushed yesterday afternoon, but stayed overnight at the emergency room because no room was available.
Luckily by 11am they were able to give him a room already.
Kaya ingat talaga! Hospitals having a hard time, almost full occupancy.
— JV Ejercito (@jvejercito) March 29, 2021
The country is currently grappling with an increase in COVID-19 cases, especially in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal and Cavite, which have been put under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
According to data from the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippines set a new record for single-day increases in COVID-19 cases on Monday, with 10,016 new infections.
READ: PH breaks record for new COVID-19 cases again with 10,016 infections
READ: Metro Manila, 4 provinces under ECQ due to COVID-19 surge — Palace
This pushed the total number of active cases in the country to 115,495. According to DOH, 76 percent of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in the National Capital Region are filled, while 70 percent of isolation beds are occupied.
Just last week, several hospitals reached full capacity in terms of allocated beds and space for COVID-19 patients.
READ: Several NCR hospitals declare full capacity for COVID-19 cases
READ: 2 more Metro Manila hospitals declare full capacity for COVID-19 cases