Zamboanga City in dire need of oxygen supply —city task force exec

After facing an increase in COVID-19 infections, Zamboanga City is experiencing scarce medical oxygen supply for its patients with severe or critical infection.

In a television interview on Thursday, Attorney Kenneth Beldua, spokesman of Zamboanga City Task Force, reported that some patients are being denied admission in hospitals because of low oxygen supply.

"The challenge really is the lack of oxygen supply as our private hospitals here had no choice but to deny the admission of some patients needing oxygen," said Beldua over ANC's Rundown.

He further pointed out that the local government is coordinating with the national government to procure more oxygen tanks.

Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco is also coordinating with vaccine czar Carlito Galvez to address their pandemic concerns,  Beldua also said.

To date, Beldua said their province logged 17,999 total COVID-19 cases, including 2,605 active cases, and 784 deaths.

Of the number of active infections, Beldua reported that the majority are asymptomatic and about 5% are severe or critical patients staying at hospitals and intensive care units.

More vaccine supply

Increasing vaccine deployment in the province is also needed to battle the increasing infections in the province, said Beldua.

"The situation in the  NCR is really improving... In Zamboanga, we are dependent on supply given to us with DOH," he said.

"We believe that if the national government would give us more vaccines then we can address this problem," he added.

Aside from COVID-19 jabs, Beldua said they are also requesting more antigen test kits and personal protective equipment.

Zamboanga City is under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) until October 31, 2021. 

Beldua also said many medical groups are demanding to elevate the quarantine status of Zamboanga City.

"Many different groups from the medical society Philippine College of Physicians and even the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines have already brought  it already the local inter-agency task force, requesting for an elevation of quarantine status," he said.—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News