The six district hospitals in Manila will only be admitting COVID-19 patients who are in severe or critical condition, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso announced on Monday, Jan. 10.
The new policy shift was issued to utilize the hospital beds for COVID-19 patients amid the surging COVID-19 cases brought about by the Omicron variant.
The six Manila district hospitals are Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Hospital, Ospital ng Tondo, Justice Abad Santos Medical Center, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Sta. Ana Hospital, the New Ospital ng Maynila.
“Para naman sa ganon, magamit natin yung ospital for its original purpose – bigyan ng tamang atensyon yung ibang sakit na dumadapo sa ating mga kababayan, tulad ng cancer, sakit sa puso, mga diabetic o nagangailangan ng dialysis, naganganak o yung mga sanggol (So we can use the hospital for its original purpose - give proper attention to other diseases that afflict our people, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes or those in need of dialysis, childbirth or babies),” he said.
Those who have mild symptoms but have underlying conditions and in need of proper hospital care will also be admitted.
Domagoso said it will also help keep hospitals open for other patients experiencing other ailments aside from COVID-19.
“Kasi po pagbubuhos ng bubuhos ang pagtanggap ng COVID-19 patients na mild but healthy persons, ay mauubusan po tayo ng espasyo at resources para sa ibang mga sakit (If we keep on admitting COVID-19 patients who are mild but healthy, we will run out of space and resources for patients with other diseases),” he stressed.
“Ito po ay magdudulot ng pagkasawi ng ating mga kababayan na hindi naman COVID-19 (This will cause the death of those who are not COVID-19).They need also ample care o proper care,” the Manila mayor added.
Meanwhile, patients who are asymptomatic or experiencing very mild symptoms will be asked to isolate in their homes. Those who do not have spaces for proper isolation will be taken to the city’s various quarantine facilities.
The country has logged a record daily high COVID-19 cases of over 33,000 on Monday, Jan. 10.