Davao City – Davao City recorded low occupancy rates in COVID-19 Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs) and at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).
Acting Health Officer Dr. Ashley Lopez, also the focal person of Davao City’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response bared this during the COVID-19 Alert program of the Davao City Disaster Radio.
Lopez said, “We have bed occupancy of 1,200 plus in our TTMFs and as of April 13, we had an occupancy rate of 19.5 percent or about 260 isolated cases. That means daghan pa kaayo tag bakante.”
He, however, said they temporarily closed six isolation facilities intended for confirmed COVID-19 positive cases. From the original 18, the city currently has 12 functional TTMFs or isolation facilities. This number does not include quarantine and holding facilities.
Meanwhile, Lopez said SPMC currently has a hospital utilization rate of less than 20 percent. Out of 380 COVID-19 beds allocated, over 100 patients are currently admitted. Of SPMC’s 35 ICU COVID-19 beds, 19 are currently occupied.
“Naa pa silay daghang bakante pero dili lang jud unta mapuno. That’s why niingon si Mayor nga in the meantime, wala pa kaayo tay pasyente, kaya pa nato i accommodate tanang COVID-19 patients sa SPMC aron ma contain ang tanang COVID-19 patients,” he said.
The CHO top official also lauded Mayor Duterte’s idea of treating COVID-19 patients solely at the SPMC. “Unsay advantage ani? Enkaso naa man jud makasulod na variant among these COVID-19 patients, dali ra macontain kay naa ra sila sa isa ka lugar. Maoy ingon ni Mayor. Tama jud iyang idea nga icontain ra sa isa ka lugar.”
He said as much as possible, all COVID-19 cases, regardless of classification (mild, moderate, severe, critical), will be sent to the SPMC.
The mayor earlier said that different private hospitals decided and agreed during a meeting that they will no longer accept COVID-19 patients and that all COVID-19 patients will be referred to the SPMC due to the continuing downtrend of coronavirus infections.
But she also said private hospitals will have to prepare their facilities and beds in case of a possible surge. Only then will they resume accepting COVID-19 patients.
Lopez added that three COVID-19 patients have remained in private hospitals but they are already scheduled to be discharged. (City Information Office | Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao OIC)
