Physicians from Negros Oriental are urging the national government to place the province under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the high number of active coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.
"The past few weeks been overwhelming for those of us in the healthcare sector in Negros Oriental. We have reported highs in positive cases on consecutive days last week with 204 cases just last Friday, May 21, 2021," the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) Negros Oriental Chapter said in a statement.
PCP-Negros Oriental said the province currently holds the highest cases in Central Visayas and their hospitals are "saturated with moderate and severe COVID-19 cases with dwindling supplies of equipment and medications to treat patients."
As of Sunday, May 23, Negros Oriental currently has 1,091 active cases.
The province's average daily attack rate (ADAR) is currently at 8.12 (critical level) and its hospital bed capacity occupancy is near 100 percent.
Three major Dumaguete hospitals are already at full capacity as of May 21. Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital is at 110 percent, ACE Doctors Dumaguete at 107 percent, and Holy Child Hospital at 100 percent.
Silliman University Medical Center announced last week that it will no longer admit COVID-19 patients as all its beds are fully occupied.
"We are asking for our local government to take action on a faster rollout of vaccinations, a better implementation of curfews, and discipline. We are calling on our local businesses to enforce stricter quarantine rules and have a heightened sense of social responsibility. We are pleading to our fellow Negrenses to be more cognizant of health practices and safety protocols," the group said.
The Negros Oriental Medical Society (NOMS) also called for the reimposition of ECQ in the province "before healthcare collapses."
"1.5 years into the pandemic, and we are seeing a 100 fold rise in cases from last year! Never say that we have COVID under control. We are losing the fight. What is being done, is just not enough," NOMS said in a Facebook post.
It also urged the public to stop partying, gathering, and socializing.
"Wear masks. Give us curfews. Give us time to reset. Please do something before healthcare collapses. The end of healthcare will be the end of society. Help us health workers."