Duque: More lines to be added to COVID-19 referral center

More phone lines will be added to the COVID-19 referral center to accommodate more callers amid a surge in cases, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday.

“Ngayon, nagpadagdag tayo ng apat na linya pero ang pinupuntirya natin, bago matapos ang linggong ito, sampu ang bagong linya na madadagdag sa [Hotline] 1555 para mabilis na matugunan ang mga katanungnan ng ating kababayan,” Duque told Super Radyo dzBB.

(Now, we have added four more lines but our goal is to add 10 lines to the 1555 [hotline] before the end of this week so we can respond to more callers.)

Duque said the One Hospital Command Center is now the One COVID Referral Center after it was expanded into a "whole system of delivery of healthcare services."

The center connects patients needing medical attention to healthcare providers. Those in need of help may call 02-886-505-00, 0915-777-7777 and 0919-977-3333.

Treatment czar Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega earlier said the COVID-19 referral center was being swamped with up to 300 calls a day. 

The Department of Health has called on local governments to set up their own COVID-19 telemedicine hotlines to assist residents seeking medical attention. 

Duque added that health authorities continue to address the overcrowding of hospitals as more Filipinos contract COVID-19.

The Philippines has logged 892,880 COVID-19 cases with 704,386 recoveries and 15,447 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon.  — Julia Mari Ornedo/RSJ, GMA News