ASIDE from monitoring their health condition, a Davao City health official said the City Government is strengthening its psychosocial counseling for individuals isolated at the city's temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMF).
Dr. Ashley Lopez, Davao City Health Covid-19 focal person, said in a radio interview on Wednesday, December 16, that some patients isolated in TTMFs tend to develop anxieties and even depression during their stay within these facilities.
Lopez said these are the common complaints they are experiencing.
"Bisan kinsang gahi diha, pag ikaw ma-isolate ka, malayo ka sa imong pamilya for how many days, syempre naa gyud kay bati-on ana (Even some of those who are strong-willed can experience anxieties when living away from their family)," the official said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
While the counseling will not be done face-to-face, Lopez said the city has several psychologists, who can be contacted through the city's operation center and who are ready to accommodate and facilitate the counseling to everyone who will be placed within the TTMFs.
He said they are ready to listen to those who are isolated and who need someone to talk to.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the pandemic can increase the risk for depression.
WHO urged those who are experiencing anxiety during this time to seek professionals to attend to their mental health needs. Those in isolation are also urged to talk to someone they trust.
The DOH also has a hotline for those people who are experiencing mental health problems.
Meanwhile, Lopez said the city's 19 TTMFs currently has a 35-percent occupancy rate.
Those admitted in these facilities are Covid-19 patients who are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms.
But he said that sometime in November, the TTMF's capacity reached an occupancy rate of 85 to 90 percent, which is considered to be in critical levels, due to the spike of in new cases in the city.
But as of December 16, the occupancy rate has dropped as more patients recovered.
Lopez said the city continues to look for more locations for TTMFs.
He said that recently, the City added Sta. Ana National High School and one hotel, which is intended for paying patients, to its list of TTMFs.
He also said the city is also preparing to open two more TTMFs.
Meanwhile, he said the One Hospital command continues to urge the private hospital to expand its Covid-19 bed capacities.
This is in relation to the recent mandate to all 19 private hospitals in the city to provide 20-percent of its total bed capacity for Covid-19 patients.