After Misa de Gallo: City hospitals ready if cases spike

CEBU, Philippines — Hospitals and health workers in Cebu City are ready in case of a spike in COVID-19 cases following the nine days of Misa de Gallo, albeit officials are hopeful this readiness will not have to be tested.

Mayor Edgardo Labella said he has instructed the Emergency Operations Center and the City Health Department to prepare for a possible spike in cases.

Councilor Joel Garganera, EOC’s deputy chief implementer, said hospitals here are in a “very good shape.”

Based on ECO’s latest monitoring, there are at least 112 beds dedicated for COVID-19 patients in the three public hospitals that are unused. Only 76 are occupied.

Less than half of the ICU beds are occupied and only a few ward beds are utilized, as most of the COVID-19 patients are on isolation beds.

Meanwhile, only 10.2 percent of beds in the nine private hospitals in the city is occupied, which translates to 431 vacant beds.

Garganera said most of the 21 hospital frontliners who tested positive for COVID-19 at the start of December has already recovered.

As of December 21, Cebu City has 98 active cases based on data from the Department of Health (DOH)-7. Based on ECO’s own monitoring, however, there are actually only 89 active cases left, including six new cases.

The active cases come from 27 of the city’s 80 barangays. Fifty-three other barangays have zeroed in transmission in the last 14 days.

Household infection was at 31.50 percent from December 7 to December 20, higher than the 20.65 percent recorded at the end of November.

Outside transmission went down to 68.49 percent in the same time period.

Garganera said most of the index cases (first case in a household) was transmitted from workplaces, during parties, and while strolling out.

At the start of December, the DOH and EOC have warned residents to avoid large gatherings such as company parties and reunions, and gatherings with people from other households. — /JMO (FREEMAN)