Capitol eyes quarantine facilities as ‘field hospitals’

By Dolly Yasa

Bacolod City – With the number of coronavirus disease cases surging in the province of Negros Occidental, the provincial government is seeking approval from the Department of Health of its proposal to make quarantine facilities as “field hospitals

The number of active COVID-19 cases in the province soared to 2,298, with 36 recorded deaths on September 15 and 16.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, who is the provincial Inter Agency Task Force action officer, said the proposal was already approved by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.

“If we get the approval of DOH, it will give us more bed spaces,” Diaz said.

Diaz pointed out that COVID-19 designated hospitals – Cadiz and Valladolid District Hospitals – are now 90 percent occupied by moderate to severe infected patients.

The Valeriano Gatuslao Memorial District Hospital in Himamaylan City was recently added to the list of designated COVID-19 medical facility,

Diaz said the Silay City quarantine facility has almost 500 rooms, with more than 30 being occupied, while the 350-room EB Magalona healing facility is also occupied by more than 100 infected individuals as of this time.

He added that “we are looking into the possibility if we can treat COVID-19 patients with moderate symptoms, he added.”

Diaz has issued a memorandum requiring that all patient referrals must pass through the One Hospital Command System (OHCS) effective Sept. 15.

He stressed that the “No OHCS Referral, No Admission Policy” will be strictly implemented to avoid walk-ins and overcrowding at our triage and emergency rooms.”

“This is as also to protect our overwhelmed workforce,” Diaz said.