THE head of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) on Thursday, July 22, 2021, urged hospitals to be ready with mechanical ventilators, oxygen tanks and other respiratory equipment as more coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases with the Delta variant were detected.

PCP president Dr. Maricar Limpin said an increase in infections was starting to be felt in hospitals.

“Medyo nararamdaman na talaga namin ‘yung pagtaas ng mga kaso, lalong lalo na starting mga latter part of last week, nag-umpisa na medyo napansin naming dumadami. Maski hanggang linggong ito ay medyo mas marami talaga,” she said.

“Eventually po, ‘pag talagang masyadong marami ‘yung kaso tapos apektado rin ‘yung mga healthcare workers natin... magkakakulang-kulangan na naman po ‘yan pero as usual kami naman po ay magre-respond diyan,” she added.

Limpin said the increase in cases can be attributed to the lax restrictions.

Professor Guido David of Octa Research, for his part, said there is a “big possibility” that the Delta variant is causing the increase in Covid-19 cases.

He suggested that the government reimpose some restrictions to prevent further transmission.

“We have to be proactive. Hindi naman natin kailangan mga lockdown. Pwede tayo mag-increase ng restriction pwede natin bawiin ang (paglabas) ng mga bata kasama yan sa recommendations namin and ‘yung border control natin,” he said in a television interview.

“In fact na-float natin ang idea ng bubble pero kung nakapasok na kasi dito kasi nagkakaroon na ng increase in cases baka mejo huli na ang bubble unless gusto natin iprotect ang regions outside the bubble,” he added.

He said fewer restrictions can be imposed on fully vaccinated individuals as they are at lesser risk of hospitalization.

David said the government should ramp up vaccination in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Cebu City as Covid-19 cases in these areas are going up.

He said they were expecting 8,000 fresh virus cases on Thursday, July 22, after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 6,560 new infections on July 21, the highest in about a month.

The DOH on Wednesday evening said it has initiated response with the premise that there may already be local transmission of the Delta variant. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)