Private hospitals’ group backs state of calamity extension

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the threat of a new COVID-19 variant, the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) has given its full support for the extension of the state of calamity in the country until the first quarter of 2023.

“In truth, COVID is still there; the caseload is still high. We still have 16,000 active cases,” PHAPI president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano said during the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday.

“We believe that perhaps, for the next three months or first quarter of next year, we will observe and monitor and if we see a decline, then that is the time we may lift the state of calamity,” De Grano added.

The declaration of the state of calamity has its advantages for the public as well as health workers, according to the medical expert.

“Usually, there are benefits derived from the Department of Health (DOH) and local government units that depend on the state of emergency, and we may lose the chance to take advantage of these, like the allowance we give to health care workers,” he said.

The DOH has already asked for an extension of the state of calamity, which is set to expire on Dec. 31.

De Grano maintained that at this time, COVID-19 admissions in private hospitals remain low risk, but he stressed the need for hospitals to prepare for a possible increase in COVID-19 cases after the holidays.

“We are aware that the caseload could possibly increase because of the new variant,” he said, as he noted that the new COVID-19 variant is 18 times more transmissible than the other variants previously detected.

The PHAPI leader projected that by the first week of January, hospitals can already see if there will be an upward trend in COVID-19 cases as a result of holiday gatherings.

He said that aside from COVID-19, hospitals are also preparing for a possible increase in cases of asthma and other respiratory illnesses due to pollution brought about by the use of firecrackers.

De Grano advised the public to continue wearing face masks for their protection against COVID-19 as well as other respiratory diseases.

He further advised the public to get the necessary booster shots against COVID-19.