Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said Monday if the number of residents getting infected continues to rise and the capacity of the hospitals and quarantine facilities being run by the city becomes full, those infected may have to isolate themselves in their homes and risk infecting their loved ones.
Domagoso says once the full capacity is reached, the city government cannot do anything and lamented the continuing rise in the number of people being infected by the coronavirus in Manila like elsewhere in the country.
But Domagoso says the local government has begun inoculating disaster risk reduction and management personnel, social workers and jail officers.
He says workers from these sectors are part of the “Priority Group A1” identified by the government’s National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center.
Domagoso says just like the private hospitals, the city hospitals might have no choice but to stop accepting patients once the limit is reached.
“Kapag napuno ‘yan (quarantine and COVID beds) gaya ng nangyayari sa private na punuan na, kayo ay di tatanggapin sa loob ng ospital o ng quarantine facilities. Pag naabot ang sukdulan, kayo ay malalagay sa alanganin at maaring manatili habang hikahos o naghahagilap ng hangin sa loob ng bahay n’yo at malaki ang tsansa na mahawaan ninyo ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay na siyang nagaganap ngayon,” Domagoso said.
It is for this reason, he says, why he and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan have been repeatedly appealing for city residents to observe health protocols and avoid going around unnecessarily.
The latest statistics show that the occupancy rate in the quarantine facilities has so far reached 91 percent.
Domagoso tasked Lacuna-Pangan and permits bureau chief Levi Facundo to coordinate with hotels and motels in the city that used to serve as quarantine facilities to know if they are willing to take on the same role all over again given the spike in COVID-19 cases these days.
He says even if the city government has established so many quarantine facilities and added another 300 recently, nothing will ever be enough if the residents will continue breaking protocols, engaging in mass gatherings and unnecessary meetings and engaging in activities like there is no pandemic.
