BY CARLA P. GOMEZ
Riverside Medical Center Inc. late last night clarified that it has a low number of COVID-19 cases admitted in its facility.
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said RMCI’s initial advisory announcing that its isolation facility for COVID-19 patients, had reached its full capacity, gave the impression that a lot were admitted in the hospital.
The city government sought an explanation from RMCI and he hopes its latest advisory will clarify its misleading announcement Monday that caused unnecessary apprehension.
The RMCI advisory issued last night said it would like to make a clarification on its announcement on Monday.
The RMCI Isolation Facility has only 11 beds, of which 8 are occupied by COVID-19 positive patients with mild symptoms and 3 are occupied by probable patients, the new advisory said.
In addition, there are 8 suspected/probable patients admitted outside the Isolation Facility but within the designated COVID-19 area at the 5th floor of the hospital, it said.
“The RMCI has allocated 20 percent or 53 beds out of its bed capacity for COVID-19 related cases. As of July 21, 2020, only 19 beds or 36 percent are occupied with zero deaths, since the start of the pandemic. This is considered a low census for COVID-19 cases admitted in a healthcare facility,” it said.
“The RMCI assures everyone that we continue to take care of our healthcare workers and patients, for the safety of the community,” it added.
Furthermore, in compliance to the DOH A.O. 2020-0016, the RMCI has a plan to increase its COVID bed capacity to 30 percent, as the need arises, it said.*
