South Cotabato, Koronadal City- South Cotabato Provincial Government of South Cotabato (PGSC) is planning to expand the capacity of the province’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment facilities as the province anticipate another possible surge of infections in the coming weeks.
Dr. Conrado Braña, the designated head of public hospitals in the province, said they are looking at maximizing the available resources at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital (SCPH) in Koronadal City and in other local government-run facilities to accommodate more patients.
He said they can still increase the capacity of the COVID-19 Center at the SCPH from the current 60 to 100 beds and allot additional spaces at the Polomolok Municipal Hospital and Norala District Hospital.
Braña said they are also considering reopening the treatment facility at the Soccsksargen General Hospital in Surallah town, which is currently under management transition to the Department of Health.
Braña added that they need to prepare enough treatment facilities and other resources in case there will be another surge due to these COVID-19 variants.
As of Wednesday, he said the COVID-19 admissions at the SCPH and other local hospitals remained manageable but noted that the area’s situation remained volatile.
The SCPH center has 60 available beds, including five in the intensive care unit (ICU), and four mechanical ventilators.
It has eight confirmed patients admitted at the treatment ward, seven are in the holding area while waiting for the results of their reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction testing, and four are in the ICU.
Braña said they are still hoping that the anticipated surge will not happen but the current trend and situation in other areas are pointing to it.
