The Philippine General Hospital said Wednesday its COVID-19 ward was already “overflowing” with 215 patients, over its limit of 210 capacity for coronavirus disease patients.
READ: More hospitals run out of beds for virus cases
The hospital will still accept non-COVID-19 cases, said PGH spokesman Jonas Del Rosario said.
“Our COVID-19 ward is full. It’s overflowing. We went past our set limit of 210 patients,” Del Rosario told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo during an interview.
“Many private patients went to PGH probably because private hospitals were also full,” he added. Willie Casas
Hike COVID-19 bed capacity, govt hospitals told
The government is now requiring public hospitals to increase its allocation of bed capacity for COVID-19 patients to 50 percent to 70 percent in the event there is a surge in COVID-19 cases, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said on Wednesday.
Vergeire said the new requirement is part of the One Hospital Command strategy of the government to decongest hospitals amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public hospitals are required to allocate 30 percent of their bed capacity to COVID-19 patients, a requirement that not all hospitals have been able to meet due to a lack of resources.
Private hospitals, on the other hand, are required to allocate 20 percent of their bed capacity for COVID-19 patients and hike this to 30 percent in case there is a surge in cases.
Vergeire said they are looking at providing incentives for private hospitals that expand their bed capacity for COVID-19 cases.
More dialysis capacity needed
The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) on Wednesday said other COVID-19 referral centers would be capacitated to accept patients, including those for dialysis, as the hospital continues to run on full capacity.
“I hope other centers accepting COVID patients will also have the capacity for dialysis because they still go to us. Almost 90 percent here are undergoing dialysis. Capacitate centers to accept and also increase their dialysis capacity,” NKTI Executive Director Rose Liquete said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo.
Liquete said other dialysis centers closed down because of lack of manpower and also due to issues related to their PhilHealth reimbursement.
Duque not a whipping boy, Palace says Malacanang on Wednesday denied that President Rodrigo Duterte is using Health Secretary Francisco Duque III as a “scapegoat” for the government’s lapses in the COVID-19 response.
READ: Palace assures hospitals still up to task handling COVID patients
Palace spokesman Harry Roque issued the statement after detained and outspoken senator Leila de Lima claimed that Duque has not been fired from his post because the President needs a “whipping boy” in this crisis.
“I read the same papers and I watch the same news as Senator Leila De Lima, I can tell you, the President has not been treating Secretary Duque as a whipping boy,” Roque said over a television interview.
PSG cases had no contact with Duterte
Eight Presidential Security Group (PSG) personnel have tested positive for the COVID-19, PSG commander Col. Jesus Durante III confirmed on Wednesday, but he said they did not have close contact with President Duterte.
Durante said the infected security personnel were detailed with the office of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea who initially tested negative for COVID-19.
Durante’s announcement came just nearly a week before Duterte delivers his fifth and penultimate State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.
The PSG has been on high-alert status since the country was hit by Covid-19 to ensure Duterte’s safety.
China, Taiwan eyed for vaccine
The Philippines is in talks with manufacturers from China and Taiwan for the possible supply of COVID-19 vaccine once these are available, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing Wednesday.
“In the coming days or weeks, we will be able to give you a complete information once all of these have been finalized already,” Vergeire said.
Vergeire issued the statement in response to a question if the Philippine government had expressed interest to purchase vaccines being developed by drug manufacturers from the United States. With PNA
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