MANILA - Stretched beyond its limits, The Medical City (TMC) in Pasig City will close its services for coronavirus-related illnesses for now.

In an interview with radio DZMM, Dr. Eugenio Jose Ramos, the hospital's president and chief executive officer, said they would have to temporarily turn down patients battling the highly-contagious disease.

"Dumating sa punto na hindi na namin kakayanin na tumanggap pa ng mga pasyente," he said.

(It reached a point that we could not take in [coronavirus] patients anymore.)

"We had no choice but to really appeal na close na muna kami," he added.

The hospital, however, is coordinating with other facilities that could accept suspected or confirmed coronavirus patients.

"So habang maaga pa, ini-inform na ang mga tao na kung puwede dumiretso na sila sa ibang hospital kasi talagang hindi na namin kakayanin," Ramos said.

(While its still early, I am informing the public to go to other hospitals because we are stretched thin.)

The hospital will take in coronavirus patients once the situation stabilizes, he added.

Ramos however clarified TMC remained open for non-COVID-19-related illnesses.

• 'Extraordinary times': Medical City shows packed floors as hospital appeals for 'time' to combat COVID-19

Also on Wednesday, the hospital released a video offering a rare glimpse of its COVID-19 war zone, where health workers in full protective gears were seen shuffling from patient to patient.

As of April 7, TMC has at least 34 COVID-19 positive cases admitted to the hospital, 6 in the intensive care unit. It also screened over a thousand cases of persons under monitoring or persons under investigation. The hospital has so far recorded 22 COVID-related deaths.

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