Hospital utilization still manageable despite slight increase in Covid admission
Despite a slight increase in Covid-19 cases in the National Capital Region, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAP) President Dr. Jose Rene de Grano assured that private hospitals are capable of accommodating incoming Covid-19 patients.
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In a public briefing on Wednesday, May 17, de Grano said that some private hospitals have reported a 20 to 50 percent increase in admitted Covid-19 patients for the past two to three days. However, he emphasized that a significant number of these cases are mild. De Grano explained that most of them were not initially hospitalized because of Covid-19 but due to other diseases, they were only found to be positive for the virus during routine testing as part of safety protocols. While most of the admitted cases are "incidental", de Grano said that they are keeping an eye on those with comorbidities and who are immunocompromised. When asked whether it is time to lift the public health emergency status of the country, he said that the decision is in the hands of the Department of Health. He also pointed out that it will be difficult to bring back the mandatory face mask protocol since it has already been lifted. "Kung kami po ang tatanungin, kung sasabihin naman po namin ay ipaalam natin ang kahalagahan ng paggamit ng face mask ano po, especially kung kayo po ay pumupunta sa mga high-risk areas (If you ask us, if we were to say it, we would emphasize the importance of wearing face masks, especially when you go to high-risk areas)," he said. He also reminded the public not to be complacent as the virus is still present.
In a public briefing on Wednesday, May 17, de Grano said that some private hospitals have reported a 20 to 50 percent increase in admitted Covid-19 patients for the past two to three days. However, he emphasized that a significant number of these cases are mild. De Grano explained that most of them were not initially hospitalized because of Covid-19 but due to other diseases, they were only found to be positive for the virus during routine testing as part of safety protocols. While most of the admitted cases are "incidental", de Grano said that they are keeping an eye on those with comorbidities and who are immunocompromised. When asked whether it is time to lift the public health emergency status of the country, he said that the decision is in the hands of the Department of Health. He also pointed out that it will be difficult to bring back the mandatory face mask protocol since it has already been lifted. "Kung kami po ang tatanungin, kung sasabihin naman po namin ay ipaalam natin ang kahalagahan ng paggamit ng face mask ano po, especially kung kayo po ay pumupunta sa mga high-risk areas (If you ask us, if we were to say it, we would emphasize the importance of wearing face masks, especially when you go to high-risk areas)," he said. He also reminded the public not to be complacent as the virus is still present.
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[OCTA: Covid-19 positivity rate slightly up in Metro Manila; rates in 12 other Luzon areas ‘high’](https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/14/octa-covid-19-positivity-rate-slightly-up-in-metro-manila-rates-in-12-other-luzon-areas-high)