The Department of Health (DOH) said that extending the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila remains a possibility amid the rising number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the area.
"Nandiyan lagi yung posibilidad because based on our projections, kahit magkaroon tayo ng dalawang linggong ECQ, patuloy pong tataas ang mga kaso natin (There is always that possibility because based on our projections, even if we have a two -week ECQ, our cases will continue to increase)," said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a television interview on Tuesday, Aug. 10.
However, this decision will still be discussed by the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
"As to the extension of ECQ, ito ay paguusapan sa IATF. But based on what is happening right now at ang patuloy na pagtaas ng kaso, hindi lang lockdown ang dapat asahan natin and government is gearing towards that (As to the extension of ECQ, this will be discussed with the IATF. But based on what is happening right now and the continuing rise of cases, it is not just the lockdown that should be expected to (decrease the cases) and the government is gearing towards that)," said Vergeire.
"Kailangan natin paigtingin yung ginagawa sa response so that economically, hindi rin tayo masyadong ma burden (We need to intensify our response to minimize economic burden)," she added.
Vergeire said that they are currently expanding the bed capacity of hospitals to accomodate more COVID-19 patients.
She also urged healthcare facilities to prioritize those patients experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19 in terms of hospital admission.
“We need to be able to navigate patients. Nakikita natin sa mga ospital na nag aadmit pa rin ng asymptomatic and mild patients. So atin pong ini-encourage ang ating mga ospital kapag severe and critical lamang ang ating i-admit (We need to be able to navigate patients. We see in hospitals that they still admit asymptomatic and mild patients. So we encourage our hospitals to only admit severe and critical cases),” said Vergeire.
“Yung ibang klaseng pasyente na asymptomatic at mild lang ang symptoms, maari po natin silang ilagak sa Level 1 facilities or temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (Other types of patients like asymptomatic and have mild symptoms, we can place them in Level 1 facilities or temporary treatment and monitoring facilities),” she added.
The DOH official said that they are also eyeing to regulate the sale of oxygen tanks.
“Kahapon po nagkaroon ng pagpupulong, tinitignan natin kung paano mare-regulate ang pagbebenta ng oxygen tanks, Ibig sabihin, ibebenta lang iyan o ipagbibili sa mga taong talagang nangangailangan. So, dapat prescribed siya (Yesterday, we had a meeting. We are looking at how to regulate the sale of oxygen tanks. That means, they will only be sold to people who really need it. So, it should be prescribed),” she said.
“Ang Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and DOH ay nakikipag usap ngayon sa manufacturers ng oxygen so that they can increase their production para madagdagan pa ang naisu-supply pa sa mga ospital sa pang araw-araw (The Department of Trade and Industry and DOH are now in talks with oxygen manufacturers so that they can increase their production to further increase the supply to hospitals),” she added.