PGH to admit only referred COVID-19 patients, other emergency cases

The Philippine General Hospital has clarified that it will only admit referred patients and other emergency cases as it operates as a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) referral center.

In an advisory posted on Facebook on Tuesday, the hospital said its COVID-19 triage is already closed. This means that they will no longer accept persons under investigation (PUIs).

For non-COVID-patients, only those with life/limb threatening emergency conditions, pregnant with imminent delivery, or trauma will be admitted.

"Kung may sintomas ng lagnat, ubo o hirap sa paghinga, kumonsulta muna sa ibang pinakamalapit na ospital o klinika," PGH said. "Ang mga tatanggapin lang po namin ay mga napatunayang positibo sa COVID-19."

PGH opened as a referral center with 130 beds on Monday, accepting only moderate to severe COVID-19 cases referred by other hospitals.

Hospitals coordinating the transfer of their non-COVID-19 positive patients will be advised to seek other non-COVID-19 referral hospitals, PGH said.

Ambulances transporting patients with other conditions, meanwhile, will be advised to go to other non-COVID-19 referral hospitals as well.

For those who tested positive with COVID-19, call the Department of Health's Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) at 0916-7313113 or 0908-7628855 to coordinate these transfers to PGH.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Philippines has 2,084 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 88 deaths and 49 recoveries. --Kaela Malig/MGP, GMA News