Hospitals have started seeing the impacts of rising coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases and admissions as the spread of the more transmissible Delta variant looms, the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) said Thursday, July 22.
In an interview over DZBB, PCP President Dr. Maricar Limpin said this was based on an increasing number of patients going to emergency rooms
"Medyo nararamdaman na talaga namin yung pagtaas ng mga kaso, lalong-lalo na starting mga latter part of last week, nag-umpisa na medyo napansin naming dumadami. Hanggang linggong ito ay medyo mas marami talaga (We have been feeling the rise in cases since the latter part of last week. Even until this week, cases are slightly higher)," Limpin said.
"Sa ibang bansa, nakita naman natin this leads to hospitalization at marami ring namamatay (In other countries, we have seen that this variant leads to more hospitalizations and many deaths)," she added.
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Limpin said that infections are also increasing even among health workers.
"Maski sa healthcare worker natin medyo napansin din namin na dumami na naman yung nagkaroon ng COVID-19 (Even with our healthcare workers, we also noticed that more and more are also getting infected with COVID-19)."
The physician called on the government to provide respiratory equipment and supplies like ventilators and oxygen tanks, especially in rural areas.
On Thursday, the Department of Health (DOH) logged 12 new cases of the Delta variant, all of which are considered local cases.
The country now has a total of 47 Delta variant.
READ MORE: DOH eyes increasing hospital capacities amid concerns on Delta variant