6 Manila public hospitals to admit only severe, critical COVID-19 cases —Isko

Six public hospitals in Manila will only admit severe or critical COVID-19 cases, based on a new directive issued on Monday by Manila Mayor and presidential aspirant Isko Moreno.

The said hospitals are Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Hospital, Ospital ng Tondo, Justice Abad Santos Medical Center, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Sta. Ana Hospital, and the New Ospital ng Maynila. 

The said policy shift was made amid the rise in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant.

“Para naman sa ganun, magamit natin yung ospital for its original purpose – bigyan ng tamang atensyon yung ibang sakit na dumadapo sa ating mga kababayan, tulad ng cancer, sakit sa puso, mga diabetic o nangangailangan ng dialysis, nanganganak o yung mga sanggol,” Moreno said.

(This is to enable the hospital to be used for its original purpose — to provide medical attention to those who have other illnesses such as cancer and diabetes or have diabetes or need dialysis, those who are about to give birth, or babies.)

Those with COVID-19 mild symptoms but have underlying conditions will also be admitted to those hospitals, he added.

Meanwhile, those with very mild symptoms or are asymptomatic were advised to isolate themselves at home if there is available space.

COVID-19 patients with very mild symptoms or are asymptomatic who do not have space for proper isolation will be brought to quarantine facilities, including the new one at Araullo High School on Taft Avenue corner United Nations Avenue.

On Monday, January 10, Manila has 1,760 active COVID-19 cases.

Recoveries went up by 223 to 92,012, while the death toll increased by one to 1,785.

The city's total confirmed COVID-19 cases is 95,557, with 510 new ones. 

—KG, GMA News