Hospitals running out of COVID beds

Two hospitals in Iloilo City have reached the full capacity in beds dedicated to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases even as government hospitals are also running out of beds due to the surge in cases in Western Visayas.

According to Dr. Jessie Glenn Alonsabe regional epidemiologist of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH-CHD 6), the occupancy rate for COVID-19 wards and isolation wards of DOH-retained hospitals in the region is in the critical stage.

“For our DOH-retained hospitals in the region, ara na sa critical rate ang COVID-19 ward and isolation wards,” he said in a virtual press briefing on Thursday.

Alonsabe said dedicated Covid-19 wards cater to patients with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) while isolation wards cater to patients with mild cases or influenza like illness (ILI).

In Iloilo City, the COVID-19 ward of Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao district has reached full capacity as all of its 10 beds are already occupied. Meanwhile, 71 out of the 86 total beds (82%) in its isolation ward are occupied.

On Wednesday, St Paul’s Hospital, a private hospital in Iloilo City, announced that it will no longer admit new COVID-19 cases as it has reached full capacity.

“Our facilities for COVID-19 patients have reached full capacity and we can no longer accommodate new COVID cases for the time being. We kindly request those who present symptoms of the disease or who need treatment therefore to please proceed to other medical facilities for their care and management.”

The hospital said it will continue to accommodate non-COVID cases, both admitted and out-patients. An advisory shall be released as soon as it is able to admit COVID patients again.

Another DOH-retained hospital, Corazon Lacson Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City, also filled up all 14 beds in its Covid-19 wards.

“For Corazon Locsin, 14 out of the 22 beds in its isolation ward have been occupied, equivalent to 63 percent while 33 percent or one out of the three dedicated ICU beds were already occupied. As for the isolation wards, 13 out the 24 beds or 54.17 percent are occupied,” Alonsabe said.

Two DOH-retained hospitals in Iloilo province are also at the critical stage in terms of bed occupancy for COVID-19 patients.

The Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center in Barotac Nuevo has 21 beds in the isolation and 13, or 61.9 percent, are already occupied.

Meanwhile, the West Visayas Sanitarium in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo has eight beds in its Covid-19 ward and seven (87.5) percent are occupied, while 13 out of the 24 beds in its isolation ward (54.17 percent) are filled up.

On Thursday, DOH-CHD 6 reported 78 new additional cases and 57 recoveries in the region bringing the regional total to 3,152 cases with 1,442 recoveries, 1,660 active cases, and 50 deaths. (ERS)