Philippines now has 75 COVID-19 referral hospitals -DOH

The number of referral hospitals for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients has increased to 75, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the designated COVID-19 hospitals can accommodate a total of 3,194 patients.

The first three hospitals to be designated as COVID-19 referral facilities were the Philippine General Hospital, Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, and Lung Center of the Philippines.

Additionally, the DOH has established treatment and monitoring facilities with a cumulative bed capacity of 4,413.

Earlier on Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also visited two passenger vessels that will be converted into quarantine facilities for returning Filipino migrant workers and seafarers, according to Vergeire.

The two vessels can accommodate a total of 1,100 individuals.

The expansion of testing capacity, quarantine facilities, and COVID-19 referral hospitals are part of efforts to gear up for the start of mass testing on Tuesday, April 14.

“Ang pagdami po ng bilang ng maite-test ay maaaring magdulot ng biglang pagdami ng bilang ng mga madedetect na COVID-19-positive cases,” Vergeire said. “Hindi po dapat tayo ay mangamba.”

COVID-19 has claimed 315 lives and infected nearly 5,000 people nationwide as of Monday afternoon. -NB, GMA News