Two hospitals in Manila have temporarily stopped admitting new patients since Saturday following a spike in COVID-19 cases.
In separate statements, the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMC) and the Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital (JJASGH) said this is due to the increasing number of COVID-19 patients being admitted to them, and the growing number of staff also contracting the disease.
"In view of the increasing number of hospital employees/personnel being infected with the COVID-19 virus, please be informed that the Emergency Room of this hospital shall temporarily stop the admission of patients," GABMC hospital director Teodoro Martin said in a memorandum.
"All incoming patients shall still be evaluated and transferred to other city hospitals," Martin also said.
While under suspension, the GABMC said it will conduct "terminal cleaning and disinfection" as well as manage and discharge COVID-19 related cases admitted in their facility.
Meanwhile, JJASGH also said that it is temporary closing on Saturday due to a growing number of COVID-19 cases.
"Ang bilang ng mga may COVID na pasyente ay higit pa sa bilang ng kama kaya kailangan munang magsara para mapauwi o mailipat sa quarantine facilities ang mga naka-admit," the JJASGH announced.
(The number of COVID patients are greater than the number of available beds that’s why we need to close so we can send them home or transfer them to quarantine facilities.)
"Marami rin pong mga kawani ng JJASGH ang nahawa na," it added.
(A lot of JJASGH workers are also infected.)
However, after clarification from the Department of Health (DOH), the hospital will reopen its facilities on Sunday after it transfers its mild COVID-19 cases to nearby isolation facilities.
"As per Dr. Pangan of the Manila City Health Office, the said facility will open within the day. The temporary closure was due to the hospital's initiative to transfer patients with mild cases to the nearby isolation facilities," the DOH said in an advisory.
The developments came after a spike in COVID-19 cases nationwide, with 3,617 new infections.
The National Capital Region accounted for the highest cases with 2,530 recorded, including the infections in Manila that tallied 843 individuals getting sick with COVID-19.
