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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hospitals shutting down COVID-19 wards due to manpower issues -- Dizon

Hospitals shutting down COVID-19 wards due to manpower issues -- Dizon

Published Sep 23, 2021 11:27 am

Some of the biggest hospitals in the country are shutting down their coronavirus disease (COVID-19) wards due to manpower issues, National Task Force (NTF) Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon said.

A signage bearing "temporarily closed full capacity" is seen displayed outside the Manila Medical Center (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)

During President Duterte's recorded Talk to the People late Wednesday, Dizon expressed worry that some private hospitals in the country are closing down COVID-19 wards, citing the lack of available healthcare workers.

"Secretary Carlito Galvez and I will be visiting the hospitals because reports are very worrisome. Many of our hospitals, including private hospitals, even the biggest are closing down COVID-19 wards because of the lack of healthcare workers. This is I think our biggest challenge now," Dizon said.

"We're not yet out of the woods in terms of dealing with the Delta variant even if there's seems to be a slight decline in cases. These cases are still very high," he noted.

Dizon, who is also the country's testing czar, said the hospitals are still overburdened, but the most worrisome problem is "healthcare workers getting sick."

"We really need to augment and help them and really assist our hospitals as much as we can."

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