MANILA – The bed capacities of hospitals in the Philippines are enough to cater coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
According to Roque, the hospital beds in the country are still “manageable,” citing information from Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega who was recently named as “treatment czar.”
“Overall sapat sapat naman po ang ating hospital beds, kasama po ang intensive care unit beds,” the Palace spokesperson said in a virtual press conference at Malacanang on Tuesday.
“Kung puno na ang hospital na gusto niyong pasukan, sasabihan naman po kayo kung saan pwede magpunta kung kinakailangan ng ICU (intensive care unit),” he added.
Roque’s declaration was contrary to Health (DOH) undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire’s statement that medical centers’ capacity for virus cases already reached the “danger zone.”
At least two private hospitals have said their ICU beds for COVID-19 patients have reached “full capacity,” while the National Kidney and Transplant Institute said it has reached the “danger zone.”
Based on the latest data from the Department of Health, there were a total of 57,006 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, with 20,371 recoveries and 1,599 deaths./PN
