The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) on Sunday, Oct. 17 said health workers were still not able to breathe from the number of COVID-19 infections in the country.
This, after the government's pandemic task force has approved the recommendation to place Metro Manila under Alert Level 3 from Oct. 16 to 31.
"Puno pa rin kami, madami pa rin ang COVID-19 cases natin. Puno ang ICU (intensive care unit), emergency wards, although di na talaga siya tulad ng dati. Within the day, naa-admit na namin ang kailangan namin i-admit (We are still full, we still have many COVID-19 cases. The ICU (intensive care unit), emergency wards are full, although it is not really like before. Within the day, we were able to admit what we needed to admit)," PCP President Dr. Maricar Limpin said in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo.
"Except kung sabihin natin nakakahinga na kami, di pa rin kami nakakahinga sa ngayon (Unless we say we can already breathe, we still can't breathe for now)," she added.
Limpin also said health workers are worried that easing the restrictrions may cause the infections to rise again and that the government would not be able to respond to it immediately.
"Medyo nangangamba kami na itong pagluwag na ito, base sa nakaraan, every time na nagluluwag tayo, medyo may kasamang pagkalimot ang ating mga kababayan (We are a little worried that this easing of restrictions, based on the past, every time we relax, our countrymen are getting a little bit forgetful)," she stressed.
While infections have already decreased, Limpin said hospitals are still full.
She added some hospitals are still suffering from manpower shortage.
Limpin said some health workers have been infected by the deadly disease, while some decided to work in other countries.
"Kaya sila lumalabas, pumpunta ng ibang bansa, because they want a better opportunity, and the better opportunity here is in terms of sweldo na matatanggap nila (So they go out, go abroad, because they want a better opportunity, and the better opportunity here is in terms of salary they will receive)," she pointed out.
The doctor, meanwhile, said she is hoping that the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) examination will proceed so that the country will be able to have new doctors.
Limpin reminded anew the public to do their part in preventing the deadly virus from spreading by continuing to observe minimum health standards.
The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported 7,772 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of active cases to 85,048.