MANILA — The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) has reiterated its policy of admitting only persons under investigation (PUIs) for COVID-19 who may need dialysis and other specialized treatment, and not those already afflicted with the contagious respiratory disease.

"The NKTI maintains its position that it can only accept kidney patients under investigation who are dependent on renal replacement therapy such as hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis," NKTI executive director Rose Marie Rosete-Liquete said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Patients positive for COVID-19 will be referred to other facilities, according to Rosete-Liquete, in order to avoid the spread of the disease among its immunocompromised patients.

"We are firm with our main objective of preventing the spread of the virus inside the hospital by exercising stringent measures to protect our immunocompromised patients and health workers."

Rosete-Liquete said NKTI has already reached its full capacity in terms of admitting COVID-19 cases.

"At present, we have 75 beds in the COVID Field. We have already reached our full capacity despite expansion of our quarantine tent facility," she said.

However, Rosete-Liquete said they may offer medical advice for those patients who may not qualify for admission at NKTI.

"Patients who may not be admitted will be given appropriate advice and medical treatment in coordination with their respective attending physicians."

The Department of Health announced on Wednesday that there are 106 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 3,870.