BAGUIO City is investing P20 million into the expansion of bed capacity in the city in anticipation of the entry of the infectious COVID-19 Delta variant that may cause potential surges in cases.
According to Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the city currently has a bed capacity of 879 split amongst its various temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs) in Teachers’ Camp, Sto. Niño, and the private establishments that have offered their spaces for use as TTMFs.
However, in light of potential spikes in COVID-19 incidence in the coming weeks, Baguio City is investing the P20 million as soon as possible to increase its bed capacity by 150, particularly at the Sto. Niño site.
Currently, the city’s healthcare utilization rate ranges from 65 to 69 percent, according to Magalong, leading to a need to expand the city’s capacity for handling cases.
Additionally, in light of the high utilization rate of Baguio City, the local government has arranged with the Department of Health (DOH) that the city will prioritize local cases first and foremost.
“We have a DOH engagement and also with other hospital directors, where non-emergency cases will no longer be allowed to be brought to Baguio from outside the city to avoid overloading the city’s healthcare facilities,” Magalong said.
“We have a special arrangement where they cannot simply come up to the city of Baguio. They must first secure a certificate of acceptance from the hospital before they come here so our hospital authorities and medical practitioners can have confidence that they can deal with the situation,” Magalong added.
