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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Manila hospital prepares to accept patients amid post-holiday COVID-19 surge

Manila hospital prepares to accept patients amid post-holiday COVID-19 surge

Published Jan 2, 2022 01:13 pm

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The Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital (JJASGH) in Manila announced on Sunday, Jan. 2, that it is preparing to resume patient admissions after its temporary closure on Saturday, Jan. 1 due to an increase in COVID-19 cases during the holidays.

JJASGH Director Dr. Merle Sacdalan-Faustino clarified that meetings are being held on the most efficient ways to accommodate the increasing volume of COVID-19 patients and hospital staff who have contracted the COVID-19 virus.

The hospital is undergoing cleaning and disinfection of its facilities, as well as transferring pregnant women and their babies to quarantine facilities, as per the statement released by the Manila City Public Information Office (PIO).

The statement was released contrary to the post made on Sunday, Jan. 2 by the Department of Health (DOH) on its official Facebook page stating that the hospital will open within the day. The DOH said that the hospital only needed ample time to transfer patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms to nearby quarantine facilities.

The announcement made by JJASGH on Saturday said the number of COVID-19 cases had exceeded the number of available beds in the facility.

Data provided by the Manila City Public Information Office (PIO) showed the bed occupancy in JJASGH at 53 percent, above the hospital’s overall bed capacity for COVID patients of 50 percent.

An increase in the cases of COVID-19 among JJASGH’s personnel was also a factor in its previous closure.

However, the emergency room of Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMMC) remains temporarily closed to patients to give ample time for hospital personnel to conduct cleaning and disinfection and to manage the COVID-19 patients currently confined in the hospital.

GABMMC said incoming patients may still be accommodated but will be transferred to other nearby hospitals depending on the manifestations of their symptoms.

The Manila City government recorded 147 new active COVID-19 cases on Jan. 1, up from the 58 new active cases recorded on Dec. 31.

To date, the city has 93,283 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 91,075 recoveries, and 1,773 deaths. (Khriscielle Yalao)

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