Government scrambles to increase COVID-19 facilities as cases surge

The government is scrambling to increase facilities for COVID-19 patients as emergency rooms and hospital wards are at full capacity amid the surge in new infections.

According to isolation czar and Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, there are some 100 modular hospital rooms scheduled to be opened by April 8, with more in the pipeline given the need to boost COVID-19 facilities.

"After that, the next month, we will target to increase hospital facilities in QI (Quezon Institute) and Lung Center," he said in a mix of English and Filipino in a report in Vonne Aquino's Sunday report on "24 Oras Weekend."

Villar said some 167 additional hospital rooms are also scheduled to be started, along with the rehabilitation of some facilities that were open since the onset of the pandemic.

At present, nearly all hospitals in Metro Manila are already at full capacity. As of March 27, COVID bed utilization was recorded at 73%, isolation bed utilization at 67%, and ward beds at 67%. Just last Friday, a photo was taken of some 40 patients waiting outside an emergency room at a hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

The Philippines on Sunday reported 9,475 confirmed cases of COVID-19. This includes 105,568 active cases; 603,154 recoveries; and 13,170 deaths. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News