Iloilo City call center agent dies while waiting for admission to hospital crammed with COVID patients

ILOILO CITY—A call center agent in Iloilo City, Philippines died while waiting to be admitted to a hospital overflowing with COVID-19 patients.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas confirmed the death of the male patient.

“I condole with the family of a call center agent who was working from home who passed away in the emergency room of one of the hospitals in Iloilo City,” Treñas said in a statement.

“While the call center agent is from one of the municipalities in Iloilo Province, I am very sad that the agent had to go to several hospitals but cannot be admitted due to lack of available COVID bed capacity. The second wave is strong and it is real. The hospitals are full and it is real!” he added.

The patient had hypertensive cardiovascular disease and tested positive for COVID-19 at the emergency room.

The mayor said on Monday that there were 193 COVID-19 patients waitlisted in the hospitals waiting for vacancies.

Iloilo City has 1,589 active cases as of May 31.

“The situation is really difficult. Please stay at home especially for those over 65 years old and below 18 years old, and continue to observe the minimum health protocols,” Treñas said.

Iloilo City was placed under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status starting on Sunday until May 31. But Treñas has asked the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to extend the MECQ status for 15 more days due to the continued sharp increase in cases reaching a daily average of 100.

Treñas said COVID 19-cases are being recorded in all areas in the city which has 180 barangays.

“For the span of 14 days, we already recorded 962 cases. Keep your loved ones safe by staying at home, and following the safety protocols,” he said.

abc