Cars queuing outside hospital with oxygen tanks go viral in Cebu
CEBU CITY - As COVID-19 cases continue to soar here, patients are forced to wait outside a hospital in a scene that was described as “painful to watch.”
At least 33 patients on Sunday night had to stay in the lobby of Chong Hua Hospital while some waited inside their vehicles parked by the road.
Most of the patients were experiencing difficulty in breathing and were given oxygen.
“It is painful to watch. It’s such a pity that they have to wait in their cars or outside the hospital,” said City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who rushed to the hospital after photos of the situation started circulating on social media.
Tumulak said the patients have been swabbed and were still awaiting the results of the tests.
While there were patients who stayed in their cars, some had to lie down on folding beds or on bed mattresses laid out on concrete pavement.
“Some of them have been here since Friday and some started complaining difficulty in breathing Sunday afternoon. They tried to go to other hospitals but were turned down because there’s no vacancy. They opted to stay here because this hospital has a bigger parking space,” said Tumulak.
Tumulak said the city has coordinated with the hospital so that necessary assistance will be provided.
Tumulak said the city is preparing quarantine centers that may house patients with mild symptoms.
The road fronting the hospital has been closed to traffic to avoid disruption, said Tumulak.
“We have to close the road so that our doctors and nurses can focus on checking the patients,” said Tumulak.
Tumulak said there were also reports about similar situation happening in other private hospitals in the city.
“It is very saddening to think that our hospital has come to this situation. That’s why we are appealing to our people to really observe health protocols,” said Tumulak.
City Hall officials have admitted that hospitals in the city are “full to the brim” due to rising cases of COVID-19.
Last Sunday, August 1, the city tallied 415 new cases—the highest that city recorded in a single day since the pandemic broke out in the country last year.
On the same day, the city also recorded 11 new deaths.
The city, which was placed under general enhanced community quarantine starting August 1 until August 15, had 2,942 active cases as of Sunday.