Private hospitals are ready in case there is a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) surge driven by the Omicron variant.
In an interview over TeleRadyo, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPI) President Dr. Jose de Grano said there are still over 13,000 active COVID-19 cases in the country as the number of daily cases continues to decline.
"Meron tayong active cases na 13,800. Kalahati po noon, halos 7,000 naka-confine pa po sa mga ospital. Marami pa (We have 13,000 active cases. Half of it, almost 7,000, were still confined in hospitals. We still have a lot)," de Grano said.
"Yung mga healthcare workers natin na wala masyadong pasyenteng COVID doon muna sila sa non-COVID areas (Our healthcare workers who are attending to few COVID-19 patients are currently on duty in our non-COVID areas)," he added.
However, he assured that private hospitals are prepared in case the number of COVID-19 infections in the country start to rise again.
"Sa ngayon po konti ang ating COVID patients, bumababa po talaga. Kami naman naghahanda po talaga kung sakali mang dumami ulit gawa ng bagong variant na Omicron (Right now we have few COVID-19 patients, the numbers are decreasing. But we are preparing in case there's an increase again due to the new Omicron variant)," de Grano said.
On Sunday, Dec. 5, Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said PGH, the largest COVID-19 referral hospital in the country, is prepared for the possibility of a surge in infections amid the Omicron risk.
READ MORE: PGH bracing for possible surge amid Omicron threat