Hospitals agree to refer COVID cases to Quezon City government

MANILA, Philippines — Private hospitals in Quezon City will now automatically refer potential and positive cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to the local government.

Mayor Joy Belmonte recently met with officials of 30 private hospitals, who vowed to work closely with the city government in fighting the virus.

Belmonte said the hospitals would inform the local government if patients are showing symptoms of respiratory illness instead of sending them home for further monitoring.

“We can refer the patient to one of our quarantine facilities where they can be given immediate medical attention,” she said.

Under a memorandum issued by the Department of Health on March 11, hospitals are advised to send home persons under investigation (PUIs) and positive COVID-19 patients showing mild symptoms for self-isolation and monitoring by local health authorities.

Belmonte expressed concern over the protocol, saying it would only worsen the situation as the patient could potentially spread the virus to his or her family and the community. 

During the meeting, Belmonte assured the hospitals of support in the fight against COVID-19.

“The city government will procure equipment such as ventilators and mobile intensive care units, but we need the hospitals to send some of their personnel to assist us in operating these machines,” she said.

The local government will also request hospitals outside Quezon City to refer to them PUIs or COVID-positive patients residing in the city, instead of advising them to undergo home quarantine.

Quezon City will open today its second quarantine facility for PUIs.

HOPE-II facility, which is located at the Quezon City University complex in Novaliches, has a 168-bed capacity.

Belmonte said the establishment of more facilities would help control the spread of COVID-19 infection in communities as well as limit the exposure of health workers to the virus.

Quezon City is also working on an online system dubbed “Telemedicine” that would allow residents to consult doctors about COVID-19 through video conferencing.

The system aims to reduce the surge of patients in national and local hospitals in Quezon City and expedite the process of medical consultations.

Abalos, Isko on quarantine 

Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos went on self-quarantine after being exposed to persons who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Abalos said she would undergo quarantine for 14 days.

She said she would continue to manage the daily operations of the city government while in isolation.

“She has not shown symptoms of COVID-19,” city health officer Alex Sta. Maria said.

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora had placed himself under quarantine after a staff member tested positive for the virus.

Fifteen new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in San Juan yesterday, bringing the number to 94.

In Manila, Mayor Isko Moreno confirmed yesterday that he is undergoing quarantine for the second time after he had close contact with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority general manager Jojo Garcia.

Garcia had tested positive for the flu virus.

Moreno’s chief of staff Cesar Chavez said a city hall department head also tested positive for COVID-19.

Moreno and Chavez went on quarantine following an official visit to United Kingdom.

Moreno ordered city police director Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda to enforce a liquor ban and arrest violators after four persons were seen in a viral video having a drinking session in Tondo amid the enhanced community quarantine.

Officials of Barangay 453 in Sampaloc, placed Trabajo Market on lockdown after a meat vendor reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

Caloocan mayor’s son gets virus

Caloocan Councilor Enteng Malapitan, son of Mayor Oscar Malapitan also tested positive for COVID-19.

“Me and my family are in stable condition and undergoing quarantine,” the younger Malapitan said.

He called on those whom he may have had contact with to undergo quarantine to prevent the spread of the virus.