The city government continues to find ways to help hospitals whose facilities and manpower are now on critical level due to the surge in Covid-19 cases in the city.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city is working on increasing the city government-run stepdown facilities where patients on convalescence and those who have moderate symptoms will stay.
The city will now also allow home isolation for asymptomatic patients provided that they are monitored by the district health centers and the barangay health emergency response teams.
This way, the city can help declog and prevent hospitals from getting further overwhelmed by ha-ving them admit only patients who are severe or moderate and unstable.
City Health Officer Rowena Galpo said 24 stepdown units are available at the Baguio City Community Isolation Unit (BCCIU) at the Sto. Niño Hospital and this will be increased in the coming days as the city works out the expansion of the BCCIU to add 150 isolation beds to its current 350 bed capacity.
Apart from the BCCIU, the city operates five isolation facilities at Roxas Hall, Romulo Hall and Magsaysay Hall of the Baguio Teachers’ Camp, Laurel Dorm 2, central triage quarantine facility at the Baguio Convention Center and Ferionni Apartments. The six units have an increased total bed capacity from 879 to 920.
The city eyes Eurotel as augmentation pending renewal of documents even as it continues to scout for additional sites, among which the other halls at Teachers’ Camp.
Magalong said the city is working out the hiring of 50 nurses to serve in private hospitals, 30 of whom will be paid by the city government.
The city is waiting for word on its request to the Department of Health for the hiring of the 20 others to be paid by the national government. – Aileen Refuerzo
April 17, 2024
