BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Amid the sharp increase in active cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) here, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) assured residents that this city has enough beds and facilities to treat patients.
Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of the EOC, said the hospital capacity utilization rate is already at 82 percent. Hospitals in Bacolod were thus told to prepare more beds.
“I’m appealing to the public that if they feel unwell, they should immediately consult their doctor,” Sorongon said.
He also underscored the need to further boost contact tracing teams with the help of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, the Bacolod City Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bacolod City Police Office.
Moreover, Sorongon said they have adopted a “swab all” policy. All close contacts of COVID-19 patients – asymptomatic or not – shall undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.
Anticipating a further increase in hospital admissions, the One Hospital Command Center was also enhanced.
As of April 17, Bacolod City had 6,731 total COVID-19 cases of which 643 remain active./PN
