Experiencing COVID-19 symptoms? Tap telemedicine services, public urged

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is encouraging the public who are experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms to seek help via telemedicine amid high occupancy rate in hospitals.

“Our advice to our citizens kung nasa bahay po kayo, meron po kayong mga sintomas, as soon as you experience the symptoms, mas maganda makapagpa-check up tayo sa telemedicine provider,” DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said in an online briefing.

(Our advice to the people is that if you are at home and are experiencing symptoms, it is better to have a check-up via check-up telemedicine.)

“Mahirap po talaga ang sitwasyon natin ngayon, challenged tayo that we cannot easily go to the hospital and have our assessment because our hospitals are really very busy right now,” she admitted.

Vergeire said having a pulse oximeter at home will also be helpful in deciding when to seek medical help in a hospital.

“At sinasabi na nga po ng ating mga eksperto na kapag ang oxygen level is below 90 already, you need to seek consultation in a higher level facility katulad ng ospital,” she said.

(Experts say that if your oxygen level drops below 90, you need to seek consultation in a higher level facility like a hospital.)

Vergeire advised the public to consult, free of charge, with six of the DOH’s telemedicine partners.

“Kung hindi naman po kaya sa ngayon, tumawag po tayo sa barangay health emergency response team so that the doctor in your local governments can also check on you,” she added.

(If it is not available to you, you may call your barangay health emergency response team so that the doctor in your local government can also check on you.)

Due to the steep increase in new COVID-19 infections, several hospitals especially in Metro Manila have already declared full capacity for COVID-19 patients.

gsg