By John Clifford Lintao
SOON enough, the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City would no longer be accepting patients unless they have tested positive for COVID-19.
Chief implementer of the government’s COVID-19 response Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the government is eyeing to convert EAMC into a dedicated hospital for coronavirus-infected patients.
“Sa ngayon po nagbotohan sina Secretary Villar, Secretary Vince Dizon, Usec. Vega na mapaayos ang ating… at ma-convert ang EAMC na maging COVID-dedicated hospital,” Galvez said at a press briefing during the launch of the COVID-19 Command Center in Makati City.
“It would provide 250 isolation and ward beds and at the same time additional ICU, more or less 20 to 30 ICU beds,” he added.
Moreover, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, also in Quezon City, could also provide additional 50 ICU beds and 100 isolation and ward beds.
Galvez likewise hinted on the government plan to expand the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, the Lung Center of the Philippines, and the Quezon Institute, both in Quezon City, as COVID-19 cases continue to spike.
“Through the Health Command, [ini-increase] po natin ang ating health capacity. Dinadagdagan po natin ang ICU bed para maaddress natin ang increasing admissions ng different hospitals ng mga severe at critical cases,” Galvez said.
In a related development, Testing czar Vince Dizon said the Philippines is planning to open more isolation and COVID-19 beds within the month for a better management of the health crisis.
Dizon also said aggressive testing, tracing, and isolation would help arrest the spread of the virus.
Latest tally from the Department of Health indicated that COVID-19 cases in the Philippines already increased to 115,980, with 66,270 recoveries and 2,123 deaths.