Doc wants MECQ in Zambo Sur to effectively contain the deadly virus

ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR - A top official of the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), based in this city, is seeking for modified enhance community quarantine (MECQ) for Zamboanga del Sur to effectively contain coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the province.

Currently, the City of Cagayan de Oro is the only city in Mindanao classified under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Dr Anatalio Cagampang, Jr., the province's IATF-EID chairperson said the imposition of MECQ will help lessen the number of people from going out of their houses.

Doing this, Cagampang said, will contribute to controlling the surge of the deadly virus now disturbing the peace and order in the province.

The doctor said if the surge continues, the healthcare system of the province might collapse. Dr Cagampang is also currently the chief Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center (ZDSMC).

Cagampang said the hospital started only with 50 beds dedicated for patients contracted with the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Later, it was increased to 100 beds last month due to the increased rate of covid19 cases.

The hospital management has also set up 20 emergency tents at the parking lot since there were 152 added admissions of cases last MOnday, September 6.

“We put up emergency room tents since we cannot just see them leave the hospital unattended,” adding tha many patients seeking medical attention started to arrive by midnight."

The doctor also said most of the patients were unvaccinated and already had severe to critical symptoms when admitted to the hospital.

Based on DOH Zamboanga regional office, the province has 1,806 active cases of Covid-19, the highest in the region, it was learned.

The province, however, has a total confirmed Covid-19 cases of 8,168; with 6,113 recoveries and 249 fatalities.

The hospital, the doctor said, now lacks oxygen and is also running out of medicines to continuously treat Covid-19 patients.

They also said the hospital lacks personnel as 53 of the healthcare workers, including physicians, nurses, and nursing attendants have contracted Covid-19 as of Monday September 6.