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Private hospitals see hike in COVID-19 occupancy, more kids with virus


Private hospitals on Monday said that while they can still handle the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, the public should not let down its guard when observing health protocols, as even children are now getting sick with the virus.

In Raffy Tima's report on 24 Oras, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPi) president Dr. Jose Rene De Grano said the blame for the 10% to 15% rise in COVID-19 occupancy rates in private hospitals cannot merely be the presence of the more infectious UK and South Africa variants.

"Mukhang talagang tataas eh. I think hindi natin mabe-blame lang natin doon sa variant, ano. I think dahil din sa pagbubukas natin ng economy. Actually ang mga tao ay parang naging pabaya din. Very relaxed sila," he said.

De Grano said that this can be seen in the fact that hospitals are now seeing more child COVID-19 cases.

"Nagtataka nga ako kung bakit sila natatamaan kung hindi naman sila lumalabas, diba, so ibig sabihin within the family 'yon nahahawa. Baka lumalabas 'yung kanilang mas matatanda and then pag dating sa bahay, yun naghawaan na sila," he said.

In a statement, The Medical City in Pasig City said that while it can still handle the increase in cases, it is "high alert, in case of a surge."

"We appeal to the public that even with the arrival of the vaccines, we must not let our guards down but rather strengthen our vigilance and the observance of health protocols to help avoid further transmission of COVID-19," it said.

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City, meanwhile, announced that it will be limiting the number of outpatient face-to-face consultations due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

The NKTI also said that patients may also be required to undergo swab tests, and "strongly" encouraged the use of telehealth services instead when necessary.

COVID-19 cases in the Philippines have surged in recent weeks. On Monday there were 3,356 new infections, raising the number of confirmed cases in the Philippines to 597,763, including 12,521 deaths. According to OCTA Research, Metro Manila's reproduction number last week soared to 1.66, and the positivity rate went up to an average of 8% for the seven days. — BM, GMA News

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