DOH sounds alarm over rising Covid-19 bed use

File Photo
File Photo

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, sounded the alarm over the rising occupancy of facilities for probable, suspect and confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases across the country.

In her regular virtual press conference Tuesday, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the National Capital Region (NCR) has reached the danger zone in the use of intensive care unit (ICU), isolation and ward beds.

Use of ICU beds nationwide has also reached the danger zone, as more than half or 53 percent of these beds are in use.

Vergeire noted that hospitals have yet to comply with the DOH directive to allocate 30 percent of their beds to Covid-19 patients for government hospitals and 20 percent for private hospitals, based on DOH Administrative Order 2020-0016.

As of July 26, Vergeire said the beds dedicated for Covid-19 cases comprise only 15.2 percent of the total bed capacity nationwide.

Government hospitals have assigned 21.4 percent, roughly one out of five, of their beds to Covid-19 cases while private hospitals have allocated fewer beds at only 10 percent, or one out of 10, of their total beds.

The total number of Covid-19 beds has, however, increased to 16,388 as of July 16 from 15,919 as of July 22.

Of these Covid-19 beds, 52.3 percent or 8,577 beds are occupied. This places the country in the warning zone, Vergeire said.

“Nationally, malapit na po na ma-overwhelm ang health system natin, mapapagod ang ating mga doktor, nurses at mga nag-aalaga sa atin sa ospital,” Vergeire said.

(This means that our national health system is nearly overwhelmed and our doctors, nurses and other workers who take care of us in the hospitals are nearing exhaustion levels.)

In public hospitals, 49.5 percent or 5,202 out of 10,540 Covid beds were in use as of July 26.

Private hospitals have a higher Covid-19 occupancy rate at 57.87 percent, or 3,375 out of 5,848 Covid beds.

Half, or 50 percent, of non-Covid beds are likewise occupied.

Total utilization rate for both Covid-19 and non-Covid beds is 49.6 percent, or 50,357 out of the total 101,582 beds are in use.

In terms of ICU beds occupancy, NCR and Calabarzon are in the danger zone with a utilization rate of 73 percent for each region.

Five other regions - Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Davao - are in the warning zone.

Of the 159 ICU beds in Central Visayas, 51 percent or a little more than half were occupied as of July 26.

In terms of isolation beds, Vergeire said the country is in a warning zone as 51 percent is in use.

The NCR is again in a danger zone, as 82 percent of its isolation beds are occupied. Seven regions - Cordillera, Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Davao - are in the warning zone.

Central Visayas has 1,400 isolation beds. Roughly four out of 10, or 41 percent, are occupied.

For ward beds, the entire country is in a warning zone with a 57 percent utilization rate.

NCR is still in a danger zone, with a utilization rate of 86 percent, along with Calabarzon, which has a utilization rate of 72 percent.

Six regions - Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Davao - are in the warning zone.

Central Visayas has 485 ward beds for Covid-19 and more than half, or 52 percent, are in use.

There are still enough mechanical ventilators nationwide, as only 28 percent is in use, Vergeire said.

But NCR and Central Visayas are both in the warning zone since 46 percent and 35 percent, respectively, of their available ventilators are in use. Central Visayas has 187 units.

There are 1,282 hospitals and 641 infirmaries in the country based on DOH data as of July 26.

Vergeire repeated government’s call on the public to comply with minimum health standards such as wearing face masks and/or face shields, observing physical distancing and washing of hands.

She also stressed the need to stay at home and avoid non-essential outings. (Marites Villamor-Ilano/SunStar Philippines)

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