Primary COVID hospital in province normal despite surge in cases

The provincial government’s primary treatment facility for COVID-19 patients at the Cadiz District Hospital in Cadiz City remains at normal levels despite a slight surge in COVID-19 cases recently.

Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz also said this morning that based on the province’s COVID-19 update as of August 2, it recorded 15 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total active cases to 102.

At present, Diaz said, the Cadiz hospital has 30-bed capacity for COVID-19 patients, with 15 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 16 suspected cases.

“Ang 16 they have the symptoms pero ginahulat pa nila ang result sang RT-PCR test nila,” Diaz said.

He explained that the COVID-19 treatment facility is located at the annex building which is separate from the main hospital building where all other non-COVID patients are receiving treatment.

He also said that they can easily increase the number of beds for Covid patients at the annex building if necessary as it has three levels.

At present only the ground floor of the annex building is occupied, and the two upper levels are placed on stand by.

When asked if the confirmed 102 active cases is just the “tip of the iceberg,” Diaz said their “real barometer” is to check COVID-patients who really need hospitalization.

Some patients no longer require hospitalization and instead applying remedies on their conditions through other means.

“Regardless if this is the tip of the iceberg or not, ang aton nga health care system wala pa gyapon gina pressure,” Diaz said.

He further added the COVID-19 situation in the province is not bad, and it will only become a concern if the patients start going to the hospital to seek medical attention.

Diaz also likened the new strain of the COVID-19 to be more of a “regular influenza” wherein infected patients may develop symptoms such as sore throat, and a three-day long fever after which they suddenly recover.

“May iban nga gakapatay man sa influenza, pero laban-laban is kaya ta gid ya ang influenza, so subong ang symptoms are not bad that our constituents in Negros Occidental can manage,” he added.* (DGB)