At least three private hospitals in Metro Manila yesterday announced that they will no longer be able to provide in-patient care for suspected COVID-19 patients, saying that they have reached their maximum capacity in their respective facilities.
Makati Medical Hospital (MMC) said that it has attended to more than 700 suspected COVID-19 patients since the infection first broke in the country in January.
“To cope with the surge of suspected COVID-19 cases, MMC has expanded its physical and manpower capability to admit more patients, hired new recruits [both nurses and physicians] and closed some areas to augment work-force in other vital units,” they said.
“MMC has reached its threshold in its capability to respond to more COVID-19 cases. As such, we can no longer extend the same degree of care and attention for any additional admission for COVID-19 cases,” it added.
Read: Pasig City hospital tells people to look for treatment elsewhere due to COVID-19 overcrowding
Meanwhile, St. Luke’s Medical Center announced that it is also unable to accept suspected COVID-19 patients for confinement in both its Quezon City and Bonifacio Global City hospitals, adding that accepting any more will “seriously impact our ability to deliver the critical level of attention and care our patients need at this time.”
St. Luke’s added that it is treating 48 confirmed COVID-19 patients and 139 persons under investigation, while 592 of its health personnel are under quarantine. The center added that they will still provide outpatient COVID-19 testing for persons showing symptoms.
Prior to the three hospitals’ announcement, The Medical City in Pasig City said that they could no longer accept suspected COVID-19 patients because the facility has likewise reached its full capacity, and more than a hundred of its staff are under quarantine.