CENTRAL Visayas’ Covid-19 critical care utilization rate has slightly increased from 14.5 percent on Jan. 11, 2021 to 16.1 percent on Jan. 14.
However, this is still far from the 30 percent threshold, according to Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, Department of Health (DOH) 7 chief pathologist and spokesperson.
The critical care utilization rate refers to the number of intensive care units (ICU), isolation beds and ventilators in use in different health and medical facilities for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients.
Private hospitals in Region 7 have allocated 896 beds for Covid patients of which 794 are ward beds and 102 are isolation beds.
In a text message to SunStar Cebu on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, Loreche said only 132 ward beds and 12 isolation beds are currently occupied.
Dr. Jaime Bernadas, DOH 7 director, earlier said a critical care utilization rate below 30 was still considered safe, but beyond that should be considered a warning.
Loreche said that of the 11,487 samples tested in Cebu City during the first 15 days of January, 505 tested positive, or a positivity rate of 4.4 percent. The city also logged nine additional deaths during the same period.
As for Friday, Jan. 15, Cebu City had the highest number of active Covid-19 cases in Cebu Island with 552, followed by Cebu Province with 297, Mandaue City with 100 and Lapu-Lapu City with 90.
Negros Oriental logged the highest number of active Covid-19 cases in Central Visayas with 620. Bohol recorded nine active cases, while Siquijor only had two.
According to the DOH 7’s case bulletin released on Saturday, the region has 26,317 confirmed cases of which 23,141 have recovered. The death toll stands at 1,449. (WBS)