ALMOST 600 hospitals in the country recorded no coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) admissions over the past five days, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday, December 10, 2021.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said 48.5 percent, or a total of 598 hospitals nationwide had no Covid-19 admissions from December 5 to December 9.
Among the leading regions with zero Covid-19 admissions were Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) and Northern Mindanao.
Vergeire said of the 49 hospitals in Soccsksargen, 75.4 percent had zero Covid-19 admissions during the said period; Barmm with 73.1 percent of the 19 hospitals; and Northern Mindanao with 65.7 percent of 46 hospitals.
She said 11 percent of the three hospitals in the National Capital Region also reported no new Covid-19 admission in the past five days.
Vergeire said national Covid-19 admissions have been on a “steady decline” and hospital utilization is currently at low-risk utilization, at 20 percent.
Intensive Care Unit utilization is also at low risk at 25 percent occupancy.
In the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), which is among the major Covid-19 referral hospitals in the country, Covid-19 cases are down to 56.
“May mga araw po na isa or dalawa. Minsan nga ay wala, pero ang average nu’ng tiningnan ko pagpasok ng Disyembre siguro ang average ay mga two to three patients a day na lang, give and take. Minsan kasi wala, minsan six, so more or less mga two to three patients a day,” PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said in a radio interview.
“Kasabay noon, may mga nakakauwi at nakaka-recover. Kaya ’yung numero namin matagal-tagal na rin na nasa double digits na, line of 50s, which is good. Ibig sabihin mas konting Covid cases na ang aming inaalagaan,” he added.
Del Rosario said this gives them a chance to cater to non-Covid cases.
He said there were also fewer healthcare workers from the said hospital who are getting sick due to Covid-19. (SunStar Philippines)