SOUTHERN Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) bared that at least seven patients under investigation (PUI) for suspected coronavirus disease (Covid-19) were admitted to their isolation facility while waiting for their test results.
Ricardo Audan, SPMC Chief of Clinics and Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) coordinator told SunStar Davao in a phone interview yesterday that on Friday, there were initially five PUIs in SPMC. The number went down to three on the following day after the result of the two PUIs, including the Australian national, who tested negative.
Although the two PUIs were released, Audan said that new four PUIs have been admitted.
Their isolation facility, which is depressurized, has only six-bed capacity. Since the number of PUIs exceeded, they opted to use their Intensive care unit (ICU).
He added that the patients currently confined in their facility are not in critical condition. They are just waiting for their result coming from Manila. Unless they do not have their result although they are in good condition, they cannot release them yet.
“Nagamit na namo ang ICU 1 kay diba mao man ang contingency namo kung ma excess, mugamit mi sa ICU 2 and ICU 3 (We have started using ICU but as a contingency plan, we will also use ICU 2 and 3),” Audan said.
At present, including their ICU room, they can accommodate PUIs up to 27.
Audan said at present, they do not have yet the capacity to detect if a certain PUI is contracted with the infectious disease.
Only the SPMC and the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in Tagum City are authorized to cater PUIs.
Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) regional director Dr. Annabelle Yumang said they are hoping that test kits will be available this week. If it will arrive, instead of sending it in Manila, they can have the samples tested here.