The University of Santo Tomas hospital (USTH) announced that its coronavirus disease (COVID-19) wards have reached full capacity, forcing it to suspend admissions.
In a report by Varsitarian, the official school publication of UST, acting medical director Dr. Marcellus Francis Ramirez said reservations in the COVID unit and emergency room (ER) isolation rooms are not allowed and patients and doctors "must follow the hospital mechanism."
Ramirez added that patients for evaluation can only be seen in the ER and outpatient workups can be done in the ER isolation rooms but cannot be accommodated for admission if indicated.
USTH assured it would accommodate COVID-19 patients for admission when rooms become vacant.
"Transfer to other hospitals is also very difficult and this must be disclosed to the patients," Ramirez said.
Earlier, several Metro Manila hospitals have declared their COVID wards at full capacity and could no longer accept new COVID-19 patients as cases continue to surge in the Philippines.