Non-COVID-19 admissions increasing – DOH

MANILA, Philippines — Hospital admissions involving non-COVID-19 cases have been increasing, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

“The challenge for us right now is that our hospitals are nearing full capacity because of non-COVID admissions. These are illnesses not caused by COVID-19, but other diseases, including zoonotic infections,” DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a recent press conference.

“There are those admitted for dengue with around 18,000 admissions for dengue all over the country,” Vergeire added.

She also noted that many of the young population are admitted in hospitals now because of diseases that are prevalent during the rainy season, such as leptospirosis.

Overall, leptospirosis is most prevalent in the National Capital Region (NCR) with 263 cases (19 percent), followed by Western Visayas with 171 (12 percent) and Cagayan Valley with 169 (12 percent), according to the DOH official.

“We advise the public to be careful when outside during heavy rains. Our local governments have also been continuing to support our kababayans who can’t avoid wading in flooded areas,” Vergeire said.

“Leptospirosis affects our kidneys and other organs, so if there is a delay in consultation, infection could immediately spread in the body, that is why there is a need to be hospitalized. Others even have to undergo dialysis because the kidneys have been damaged already,” she added.

Vergeire again reminded the public to avoid wading through flooded areas.

“If it can’t be helped, wear high rubber boots or wrap your feet or shoes in plastic, and once you’re home, wash your feet thoroughly with soap and water,” she said.

“If you have a wound in the feet, immediately proceed to the nearest health center and avail of post-exposure prophylaxis for leptospirosis,” she added.

As for COVID-19, the DOH said cases in the country, including in the NCR, are on a decline.

“Daily decline is being sustained, both in the national and in the NCR. Broken down into island groups, only Mindanao is still seeing increasing numbers while the Visayas is on a plateau. The rest of the country shows a downward trend,” the agency said.

The DOH on Friday recorded 2,986 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the nationwide tally to 3,869,976.

Latest data from the health department also showed that the country’s active cases on the same day went up to 31,615 from Thursday’s 31,037 cases.

A total of 3,776,802 recoveries and 61,559 deaths were recorded.

In the past two weeks, the regions with the most number of cases were the NCR with 12,283; Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) with 6,648; Central Luzon with 4,152; Western Visayas with 2,179 and Cagayan Valley with 1,722.