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No shortage of COVID-19 facilities in NCR state hospitals yet, says Vergeire


State hospitals in Metro Manila are not yet overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases, although critical care resources are at "moderate risk level," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Monday.

At an online forum, Vergeire said hospital claims of reaching full capacity of COVID-19 patients should be taken with a grain of salt since not all of them have complied with the Department of Health’s requirement that 30% of bed capacity should be allocated for COVID-19 patients.

“Wala pa namang shortage, although nasa moderate risk level ang critical care resources nila. Hindi po kasi lahat nakapag-comply doon sa 30% allocation ng beds for COVID-19,” Vergeire said.

“So when they say 100% capacity, that will be based doon sa number of beds that they allocated for COVID-19, not on the entire hospital.”

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also disputed claims about the COVID-19 situation in hospitals.

“Nililinaw po namin na iyong mga kumakalat na fake news na ubos na raw po ang mga hospital beds ng ating mga hospital, hindi po iyan totoo,” he said in a televised briefing.

“Itong mga hospital beds pong ito ay bukod pa doon sa tinatawag nating critical care na as of July 5 ay 63% pa lamang po or nasa moderate risk.”

For his part, National Task Force Against COVID-19 spokesperson Restituto Padilla said that at least three hospitals reported to the task force that they have reached their full capacity and will start referring future COVID-19 patients to other hospitals

“May tatlo pong ospital, hindi ko na lang po papangalanan. Hindi na po nila kaya tumanggap ng COVID-19 patients kasi may mine-maintain rin po silang bed capacity para sa mga ibang sakit,” Padilla said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

“Ito po ay parte ng pagbabalanse nila sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo.”

Based on DOH records on government hospitals in the NCR, isolation beds are 68% occupied, wards are 79% occupied, and Intensive Care Units are 51% occupied. Apart from these, 29.8% of mechanical ventilators are already being utilized.

“Meron pa naman tayong nakikitang room kung sakaling tumaas ang mga kaso natin,” Vergeire said.

Vergeire and the officials of government hospitals are set to meet on Monday morning to discuss the state-run hospitals’ capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippines has 44,254 COVID-19 cases as of July 6. Of this number, 11,942 recovered while 1,297 died.

Over 11,000 COVID-19 cases which are asymptomatic and mild are also under home quarantine as of the moment based on DOH records. KBK/LDF, GMA News

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