The Negros Occidental provincial government has adopted the “no referral, no admission” policy regarding the confinement of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases following a recent spike in local infections.
In a memorandum dated Sept. 15, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II directed all concerned health officials to ensure that all patient referrals must pass through the One Hospital Command System (OHCS) for coordination.
“[This] will be strictly implemented to avoid walk-ins and overcrowding at hospital triage and emergency rooms. It is also a way to help protect the front-liners,” Diaz, who sits action officer of the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force, said.
Diaz issued the memorandum to Dr. Girlie Pinongan, head of the Hospital Operations Department; Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, head of the Provincial Health Office; and all chiefs of hospitals owned by the provincial government.
On Wednesday, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government is setting up more hospital rooms dedicated to Covid-19 patients.
The Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial Hospital in Himamaylan City in the southern part of Negros Occidental will be converted into a Covid-19 treatment center, with some 50 beds.
It will be the third Covid-19 facility of the province after the Cadiz District Hospital in the north and the Valladolid District Hospital, also in the south.
Lacson said the Cadiz District Hospital will also be expanded to provide 70 more beds.
The latest data from the Provincial Incident Management Team showed that on Tuesday, Negros Occidental breached the 2,000-mark anew in terms of active cases, hitting 2,043.
On Wednesday, active Covid-19 cases in the province increased by 158 to 2,201.
Source: Philippines News Agency