A public hospital in Cebu City said it had de-congested its ward for patients with the novel coronavirus by opening a satellite facility and strengthening coordination with other hospitals.

The Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center only admits COVID-19 patients with severe and critical symptoms, and brings patients with mild to moderate symptoms to a satellite hospital at an isolation center, said Director for Administration Atty. Rey Cris Panugaling.

This brought down the occupancy rate of COVID-19 beds and the intensive care unit to about 50 percent, from 70 percent some 2 weeks ago, he said.

Hospitals in Cebu City also boosted an online referral system for taking in patients with moderate to mild symptoms, he said.

"We are happy to see this picture," Panugaling told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.

Cebu City as of Thursday confirmed 6,355 cases of COVID-19, including 2,352 patients who recovered and 224 deaths, according to the health department's website.

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Watch Panugaling's full interview here.

TeleRadyo, July 17, 2020