Five COVID-19 patients die every day in PGH as bed utilization nears full capacity —spox

Five COVID-19 patients die every day at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for the last three weeks, according to its spokesperson, Dr. Jonas del Rosario, on Wednesday, showing how crowded the facility is amid the pandemic.

During the day's Laging Handa briefing, Del Rosario said COVID-19 beds at the PGH remain almost at full capacity, with 220 out of 250 occupied on a daily basis -- a far cry from the situation last year.

"Puno po ang ICU (intensive care units), that has been the case for some time. 30 beds po iyon. Sa emergency room, may 25 beds for COVID-19. Lagi rin pong puno," he said.

"Mostly po severe to critical care iyong nagpupunta sa ER. Mga five patients a day po ang namamatay for the past three weeks," Del Rosario added.

(Our ICU units are full. ER beds are also always full. Severe and critical care cases are being accommodated in the ER. Five patients are dying of COVID-19 every day for the past three weeks.)

Echoing the difficulties faced by other hospitals especially in the National Capital Region, Del Rosario said many COVID-19 patients have to wait just to be accommodated to the ICU.

Given the situation, Del Rosario said extending the implementation of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite and Rizal, or NCR Plus, beyond April 30 could help improve the situation.

MECQ prevents non-essential trips and partly shuts down non-essential businesses and services.

"There has been an improvement but it is yet to be significant. If no dent is being made, at least based on our census in PGH where we have 200 [COVID-19] patients per day, the extension of MECQ will probably help in decreasing COVID-19 transmission and lessening people getting hospitalized," he said.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), the utilization rate of ICU beds in Metro Manila remains in the high-risk category at 84% amid a fresh surge in COVID-19 infections.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said an ICU occupancy rate of 73% was recorded in the Cordillera Region, 88% in Cagayan Valley, 87% in Central Luzon, and 83% in Calabarzon as of April 18.

Under DOH guidelines, an area is classified as moderate risk if its ICU utilization rate falls between 60% and 69%, high risk at 70% to 84%, and critical risk at 85% and above.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said six cities that he did not identify had already reached 100% ICU utilization.  —KBK, GMA News