ERs in some hospitals operate at more than 100% as cases soar —doctors' group

As COVID-19 cases in the country surge, emergency rooms in some hospitals are operating more than 100%, the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) said Sunday.

In an interview over Dobol B TV, PCP president Dr. Maricar Limpin said some hospitals are operating at 130% or 150% as cases soar.

"Hindi na kami masyadong nagulat. Ang ospital ngayon puno na [ang] emergency room. Hindi lang 100%. Mahigit sa 100%," Limpin said when consulted about hospital capacity after the Philippines logged 19,441 new COVID-19 cases

(We are not surprised by that number. Hospitals' emergency rooms are at full capacity. Not only at 100% but more than 100%.)

Apart from overwhelmed ERs, some hospitals are also running out of medical supplies and mechanical ventilators, she said.

Limpin said some hospitals in Cebu City had to choose which patients will need ventilators amid low supply.

"Sa Cebu, kailangan mag-decide sila kung sino nangangailangan sa ventilators. Kailangan mamili kung sino mataas mag-survive versus sa hindi masyadong mataas ang chance mag-survive," she said.

(In Cebu, they need to decide who will be needing the ventilators. They need to choose [who will be hooked to a ventilator based on] who is most likely to survive versus who will not likely survive.)

Around 55% of the country's mechanical ventilators are in use, according to DOH figures on Saturday.

Symptomatic patients refuse to undergo checkups

Limpin stressed that patients with COVID-19 symptoms should have themselves checked in healthcare facilities near their areas to ensure that their health will not worsen.

"Kailangan magpunta muna hindi muna sa ospital kundi magpatingin sa mga health centers, facilities na nasa kanilang community," she said, adding that medical workers in health centers will advise patients to go to hospitals if needed.

(They need not go to hospitals first but to health centers and facilities in their communities.)

"May mga hindi nagpupunta maski sa primary care center sa community natin. Lumalala ang sakit nila bago pumunta sa ospital. Karamihan natatakot sila pero ang nangyayari mas napapasama ho sila dahil hindi sila agad nagkokonsulta," she added.

(Some refuse to go to primary care centers. But their health has already worsened before they decide to go to the hospitals. Most symptomatic patients are scared but their health will worsen if they refuse to seek medical consultation.)

The World Health Organization said most common symptoms for COVID-19 are fever, dry cough and tiredness. 

The DOH on Saturday said that of the total new cases reported, 95.5% were mild, 1.8% were asymptomatic, 1.1% were severe, and 0.6% were in critical condition. —KG, GMA News