NCMH adds 900 beds for mild COVID-19 patients

MANILA, Philippines—The National Center for Mental Health allocated more than 900 new beds for COVID-19 patients with mild or moderate symptoms, the Department of Health announced Saturday.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in the Laging Handa briefing that opening the Mandaluyong City facility is to help decongest hospitals in Metro Manila that are now in full capacity due to the pandemic.

“We are expanding our capacity to accommodate patients. In fact, we are opening today 900 plus beds at the National Center for Mental Health to allow us to admit mild and moderate cases,” said Vergeire.

“Mayroon na rin pong tinatayo na ekstensyon ng temporary treatment and monitoring facility para lang maka-accommodate ng mas maraming mild at symptomatic para ‘di mapuno ang mga ospital.”

(We are also constructing extensions of our temporary treatment and monitoring facilities to accommodate more mild cases and not overcrowd hospitals.)

Vergeire added that even though efforts have been made to curb the effects of COVID-19, the tangible data won’t be reflected immediately.

NCR Plus—comprised of Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan—is under enhanced community quarantine since March 29 and will last until April 11 or longer, should the government deem to extend it.

Vergeire cited a similar instance in July and August of 2020 when the decrease in cases only dwindled 10 days on and hospitals slowly decongested three to four weeks after ECQ.

“So that is also what we expect here because the incubation period of the virus in an individual is 14 days,” said Vergeire.

NCMH management announced that its emergency room services for psychiatric cases remain open 24/7 but patients must undergo swab testing before entering and a positive result would prompt the hospital to refer them to isolation facilities.

CFC