Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13) — The spokesperson of the Lung Center of the Philippines said the hard lockdown in the National Capital Region must be extended amid the soaring coronavirus cases.
“This is purely on the medical aspect kasi ngayon pa lang natatanggap yung increasing cases from the community,” said Dr. Norberto Francisco, spokesperson of the Quezon City-based Lung Center, during an interview with state-run PTV’s Laging Handa.
[Translation: This is purely on the medical aspect because it is only now that we are receiving the increasing cases from the community.]
Francisco stressed that the number of cases in the past days was increasing “exponentially”.
If there were no coronavirus spike, the Lung Center usually allots 35% of its operational capacity for COVID patients, he said.
But now, the hospital has already dedicated 76% for COVID patients.
“This is the highest,” he noted.
“Habang tumataas po ang kaso, dinadagdagan po namin ang percentage ng kama na naka-dedicate sa COVID,” Francisco said.
[Translation: As the case increases, we are adding the percentage of beds dedicated to COVID.]
He also said the Lung Center has started deploying modular hospitals for moderate, severe, and critical COVID cases.
The Inter-Agency Task Force placed Metro Manila under the strictest enhanced community quarantine until August 20 amid the growing Delta fears.
READ: Delta variant possible driver of COVID-19 surge in Metro Manila – OCTA
The Department of Health earlier confirmed the local transmission of the highly transmissible variant. It also said the Delta variant was detected in all cities and municipality of the National Capital Region.
