Hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Cebu are rising

A computer image created by Nexu Science Communication together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to COVID-19.(NEXU Science Communication/via REUTERS)

CEBU CITY, Philippines — More Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients are now admitted to hospitals in Cebu City.

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has recorded an increase in care utilization in the city’s hospitals rising from the usual more or less 20 percent to now 40.6 percent.

This means that the occupancy of COVID-19 dedicated beds has almost doubled since January 2021.

The EOC said this is still within a stable occupancy rate and in no way indicates an overwhelmed health care system.

In fact, there are still 530 available beds with 450 regular beds and 88 intensive care unit (ICU) beds for upcoming patients, the EOC said.

However, the slow occupation of COVID-19 beds also indicates that there is a significant number of symptomatic patients in need of medical care in the city.

Level two isolation facilities capable of handling mild to moderate symptoms are filling up such as the New Oasis for Adaptation and a Home (NOAH) at the South Road Properties (SRP), which has reached maximum capacity.

The recently reopened Cebu City Quarantine Center (CCQC) has at least 43 beds available from its total 160 capacity.

“Our ability to extract and isolate asymptomatic and mild to moderate patients to our TTMF will really prevent our health care facilities (hospitals) ma overwhelmed. We’re 40% karon and to think we’re used to be between 27-30%. But overall, our health facilities are still very much safe,” said Councilor Joel Garganera, the deputy chief implementor of the EOC.

The EOC already opened eight barangay isolation centers to accommodate asymptomatic patients.

The barangays have been extending help to extract the patients that have remained unextracted due to the lack of personnel by the EOC.

These barangays include Sawang Calero, Punta Princessa, San Nicolas Proper, Basak Pardo, Lorega San Miguel, Ermita, Tejero, and Cogon Ramos.

Cebu City recorded its highest number of cases for the year on February 9, 2021, with 249 cases.

Garganera said the city may be nearing its peak in this seemingly second wave of cases.

“We’re praying nga mao na ni ang peak, as far as EOC is concerned, muscle memory nani namo cause we’ve been through this before though the big difference is that we have now a better infrastructure, logistics, system and most of all the experienced. But our biggest challenge today is that there are now a lot of movements, open naman atong businesses, mass transport unlike before nga lockdowned man,” said Garganera. /rcg