Mild symptomatics and asymptomatics told: Choose isolation centers over hospitals

EOC deputy chief implementor Councilor Joel Garganera encouraged those who are COVID-19 asymptomatics and mild symptomatic to admit themselves to isolation centers instead of going to hospitals so as not to overwhelm the city’s healthcare system. | CDN Digital file photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines —  The continuous rise in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the city is alarming the Cebu City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) not because there has been a rise in critical cases, but because there has been a rise in hospital occupancy.

The occupancy rate is now almost 50 percent in all hospitals in the city and 44 percent in private hospitals. Of the patients admitted, around 30 percent are mild asymptomatic, a problem the EOC is facing.

Garganera said many well-off mild symptomatic and asymptomatic patients would often choose to be hospitalized even if they barely have symptoms, which in turn causes additional burden to the health care system when hospitals should focus only on patients in need of treatment.

“Kami sa EOC, we try to discourage katong mga asymptomatic nga magpahatod sa hospital nga walay gipamati. We don’t want our hospitals nga pareha na pud sa una nga taas kaayo ang queau,” said Garganera on February 24, 2021.

The mild symptomatics and asymptomatics are urged to isolate in the isolation centers so that the hospitals will not be overwhelmed by patients who are not experiencing much worse symptoms than those in need of treatment.

Garganera said that there are certain homes that can serve as isolation centers for asymptomatic patients and these can help reduce the number of isolated patients in the facilities.

However not all houses are qualified for home quarantine especially if they have members who are vulnerable to the disease including senior citizens or immunocompromised members.

The house must also have its own separate room and comfort room for the isolated patients. For patients with pre-existing ailment, they may also choose home quarantine because of their delicate situation.

“They’re better nga diha sila sa ilaha aron dili sila maigo sa COVID-19 ngadto sa gawas,” said Garganera.

The EOC said that the senior citizens must be protected at all times as all 32 deaths in February have been mostly from this sector. This can be done if family members who are going out to work properly disinfect before interacting with the senior citizens.

Meanwhile, only one barangay in Cebu City is left untouched by the COVID-19. Tabunan, a mountain barangay has not recorded a case since the beginning of the pandemic.

Tabunan and six other barangays have maintained zero transmission in the past 14 days. /rcg