The Negros Occidental provincial government is seeking permission from the Department of Health to open up three field hospitals that would make about 1,000 beds available for COVID-19 patients, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Thursday, September 16.
Proposed to be converted into field hospitals are the provincial government’s quarantine facilities in Silay City with close to 500 beds, Cadiz City – 200 beds and EB Magalona – 300 beds, to address the surge in COVID-19 patients in Negros Occidental, he said.
Negros Occidental’s active COVID-19 cases rose to 2,298 with 10 new deaths on Thursday, the Provincial Incident Management Team reported. That brings the total COVID-19 deaths in Negros Occidental to 114 from September 1 to 16.
The proposed filed hospitals will augment the COVID-19 designated Valladolid District Hospital that is 94 percent full and the Cadiz District Hospital that is 97 percent occupied, Diaz said.
The provincial government is also hastening the conversion of the Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial District Hospital in Himamaylan City into a COVID-19 center that would open up 75 more beds and the expansion of the Cadiz District Hospital, he said.
DOH permission is needed so that health personnel can treat COVID-19 patients in the field hospitals, who can no longer be accommodated at the COVID-19 designated hospitals of the province, Diaz said.
The Silay field hospital would be under the supervision of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, and the EB Magalona and Cadiz field hospitals will be under the Cadiz District Hospital.
The Valladolid District Hospital will also assist in the care of patients at the EB Magalona field hospital, Diaz added.
He said initial talks with DOH officials have started on the creation of the field hospitals and they appear to be receptive.*