4 COVID patients die in a day while awaiting admission in Biñan hospital parking lot

 The parking lot of Ospital ng Binan in Laguna province was recently converted into a makeshift reception area for patients suspected to be with COVID-19 infection. RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Four COVID-19 patients a day in the past two days have died while awaiting admission in a makeshift reception area at Ospital ng Biñan’s parking lot, its medical director said Monday.

“Masakit po sabihin pero yun po yung katotohanan. Kahapon at noong makalawa ay apat po sa isang araw ang namamatay,” Dr. Melbril Alonte said in an interview with Teleradyo when asked to confirm if there are any patients who died while waiting in its parking lot for admission.

(It hurts to say but that’s the truth. Yesterday and the day before that, four people died in one day.)

“Yun po yung mga pasyente na critically ill patients kung saan wala na pong tumanggap sa kanilang mga hospital na lilipatan,” he added.

(They were the critically ill patients who were also not being accepted in other hospitals.)

Alonte said they advise the patients and their kin to transfer to bigger hospitals but to no avail, so they return to Ospital ng Biñan.

“Babalik sila dito sa amin, hirap na hirap, hapong hapo hanggang sa dumating po yung punto na bumibigay na po sila,” he said.

(They return to us really struggling, exhausted, until they reach the point of giving up.)

Alonte said some 24 to 26 patients are still waiting in the hospital’s parking lot, and he expressed hope they could soon find a hospital that would cater to them.

“Nasa 24 hanggang 26 po ang nandito sa parking lot. Sinusubukan po namin na sila ay ihanap ng ospital, ihanap ng puwedeng magcater ng critically ill patients. Malungkot ngunit minsan wala po talagang malipatan, yun po talaga yung katotohanan. Umaasa po kami na sana may tumanggap,” he said.

(There are 24 to 26 waiting here in our parking lot. We’re trying to find a hospital that would cater to critically ill patients. It’s sad but there’s nowhere to transfer, that’s the truth. We’re hoping that some hospitals will accept them.)

LOOK: Kin mourns man’s death in Biñan hospital parking lot as COVID patients await treatment 

The enhanced community quarantine over the province of Laguna has been extended until August 20.

je