HOSPITAL capacity utilization rates for patients infected with coronavirus (Covid-19) disease in Bacolod City already reached 89.96 percent as of Wednesday, September 15, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) reported.
It added that 89.87 percent of the regular beds intended for non-critical Covid-19 patients are already in use, while 90.37 percent of the intensive care units are now utilized.
At the various private hospitals, 89.17 percent of beds intended for both critical and non-critical Covid patients are currently in use while 90.35 percent at the government-run Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH).
The EOC also reported eight members of a family in Barangay Banago in Bacolod who tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday. Two of them died.
Contact tracing data showed that a 39-year-old family member, who is an event organizer, was the first one to contract the disease and later died on September 1.
He was manifesting symptoms of the disease such as coughs and colds. His coronavirus-positive result was released on August 25.
His brother, 35, also died on September 11, while their 68-year-old father also tested positive for the virus and only manifested mild symptoms as he is vaccinated.
Their mother, 75, was not infected. She was also vaccinated.
This incident is an indication that vaccinated individuals have lesser chances of having a severe or critical condition once infected by Covid -19, the EOC said.
From August 13 to September 15 data of the EOC, 89 admitted individuals in different hospitals in Bacolod City are unvaccinated, 29 had their first jabs while 15 are already fully vaccinated.
As this developed, Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran urged barangay officials anew to intensify their information and education campaign within their areas of jurisdiction in the light of the increasing number of Covid 19 cases.
Familiaran, who is also the chairman of Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), said Thursday that Mayor Evelio Leonardia already ordered all the barangay officials to do their part as cases of Covid-19 continue to increase.
“Let’s educate our constituents that Covid is still here and we should not be complacent. Always follow the health protocols and don’t hesitate to avail the Covid-19 vaccine,” Familiaran said.
“Our barangay officials should monitor their barangays to ensure the implementation of minimum health protocols and to penalize the violators,” he said.
Familiaran added that everyone’s cooperation is needed to curb the further spread of the virus.
Last week, Mayor Evelio Leonardia had a meeting with the 20 village chiefs with high cases of Covid-19. He urged them to get involved.
The mayor said he wants to listen to them because they are the people who know what is happening at ground zero, adding that the City will try to adapt their policies and practices.
“At least we were able to contain, to a certain extent, the Covid-19 surge. But times are changing, repeatedly. I keep reminding the people of Bacolod that we cannot predict this Covid-19,” Leonardia said.