HOSPITALS in Metro Manila are seeing a fresh spike in COVID-19 cases, infecting personnel as well.

Dr. Ted Martin, director of Gat Andres Bonifacio Medical Center in Manila, disclosed that some 50 staff have tested positive for the virus, prompting the management to temporarily stop accepting services in its emergency room and laboratory as general disinfection of the area is done.

“Mostly are mga nag-family gatherings, …wala naman kaming Christmas party sa ospital. Kaya kami nag-mass testing, baka kami pa ang manghawa sa pasyente,” he said.

Martin assured that other departments in the hospital are open.

Meanwhile, Dr. Alfonso Famaran Jr., Medical Center Chief II, of the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium in Caloocan City, one of the COVID hospitals, said that there were 25 COVID-19 patients but when the new year came, the cases rose to 163.

Famaran added that 26 of the hospital personnel were also found positive for COVID-19.

“Sarado na po ‘yung ospital namin sa OPD services saka emergency room services para i-convert na namin sa COVID ward,” he further added.

Bong Padua, Malabon City public information officer, said the Ospital ng Malabon has been on lockdown since Jan. 2 until Jan. 4 after 19 of its employees tested positive for COVID-19.

Padua said COVID-19 cases in the hospital also more than doubled, from 100 before Christmas to 240 active cases at present.

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute, on the other hand, has 33 COVID-19 positive patients; 16 of its health workers are under quarantine.

Dr. Rose Marie Rosete-Liquete, NKTI Executive Director, said the hospital emergency room remains open. She added the hospital is prepared to set up tents if cases surge.

The Medical City in Pasig reported 30 COVID-19 cases, while the Lunge Center of the Philippines has 22 cases. Eleven of its personnel also tested positive.

The Philippine General Hospital in Manila has 162 COVID-19 cases, several of its staff were also found positive.

The Department of Health said the Philippines is now again classified as “high risk” for COVID-19 following the sharp increase in cases in the past few days.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the increase in positivity rate was seen in all regions of the country.

NO SHORTAGE OF PARACETAMOL, PUBLIC URGED NOT TO HOARD

The DOH assured the public that there is enough supplies of anti-flu pills amid reports of alleged shortage.

The DOH said it already consulted with the major drug store chains and local manufacturers and suppliers on the status of supply of paracetamol and other pills for flu.

“The DOH would like to assure the public that while there is an observed increased demand for such products, there is no ongoing shortage in the Philippines. Paracetamol has many generic alternatives in the market, which are available in many drug stores nationwide. We are constantly monitoring the status of supply of critical medicines for COVID-19 including supportive medicines for symptomatic treatment,” the DOH said.

The DOH appealed to the public not to hoard these medicines and not resort to panic-buying as it vows to continue working with other agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry and the Food and Drug Administration in securing the needed health products as part of the COVID-19 response.

“We would like to appeal to consumers, however, to refrain from hoarding, panic-buying or unnecessary purchases of such medications when not clinically warranted,” the department said.

Netizens have raised concerns on social media about their difficulties to purchase paracetamol and other pills as these were out of stock in drug stores.

COVID CASES ON THE RISE

The DOH said the number of COVID-19 cases in the country — on the rise again and believed to be triggered by the Omicron variant — could reach its peak by the end of January.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said this is based on the DOH’s initial projections on the current trend in daily infections.

Vergeire warned that the number would be more than the figures during the peak of the Delta variant last year.

“What I can give the public as an information right now would be that we did initial estimates, the assumption would be based on calculations that Omicron is eight times more transmissible than Delta and that the peak will happen by the end of January,” she said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said Omicron may already be responsible for the sharp increase of COVID-19 infections in the previous days.

Vergeire said it could already be assumed that there is already local transmission of the highly transmissible variant.

The DOH earlier reported 10 additional Omicron cases, bringing the total Omicron caseload in the country to 14. Three were local cases — two in Bicol and one in the National Capital Region.

“The assumption is there because for us to be able to declare that there’s local transmission, we need definitive evidence and we need this confirmation coming from Philippine Genome Center through whole genome sequencing,” she said.

When it comes to testing, Vergeire said ideally, 100,000 tests should be done per day. She said the number of testings has already increased in Metro Manila although there is still low output in other regions.

There have been calls for the government to conduct free mass testing in order to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Vergeire said those eligible for free testing are those who are symptomatic or those who have been exposed to a COVID-19 patient.

The Philippines recorded 4,084 additional COVID-19 infections on Monday, bringing the country’s total tally to 2,855,819.