NCR hospitals feel effects of spike in COVID-19 cases

Some of the country's top hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR) have started to feel the effects of a steep increase in the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases over the past few weeks.

According to a report on “24 Oras,” the Philippine General Hospital has reported more than 100 new cases. There were 104 cases at the PGH as of Thursday.

Fifteen healthcare workers at the PGH also tested positive for COVID-19 in the past two weeks. The PGH’s outpatient department had to be temporarily closed due to the increase in cases.

“Isang napansin namin na at least 15 healthcare workers ang nagka-COVID over a short span of time, within a week," PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas Del Rosario said.

"So that also raised a red flag that it might be that the UK and the S.A., South African variant is already in PGH,” he added. “So, we really, really have to be careful and tighten our measures. ‘Di puwedeng magpabaya."

St. Luke's Medical Center also observed an increase in COVID-19 patients over the past few days.

This is the first time in three months that the hospital had an increase in COVID-19 patients.

However, St. Lukes assured that it is not yet at full capacity.

At present, 48 out of the 108 COVID beds at its hospital in Quezon City are occupied while 59 beds also out of 108 are occupied at its facility in BGC, Taguig. -Joahna Lei Casilao/BAP, GMA News