Several hospitals record upward trend in COVID-19 occupancy rate

Several hospitals in Metro Manila have reported an upward trend in their COVID-19 occupancy rate over the past weeks.

According to Vonne Aquino’s report on “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday, the Lung Center of the Philippines has increased its COVID-dedicated beds to 78% from the previous 30% to 40%.

Of the 66 COVID-dedicated beds, 52 are occupied.

Meanwhile, 85% of the intensive care unit beds in the hospital are also occupied.

“Nag-surge tayo first in March last year then in August last year, we dedicated 75% of the operational capacity to COVID. So having said that, nasa 34% ngayon. We are almost half of what it used to be. Pero since tumataas na nga ‘yong percentage of cases na 78 na, we are ready to expand again the number of COVID beds that the hospital will dedicate to,” LCP spokesperson Dr. Norberto Francisco said.

“This is something that’s beyond our total control but we can institute measures. Kaya pa naman, but mabuti na ‘yong maalerto nating lahat ang ating mga kababayan, ang publiko, para hindi na umabot ulit doon sa kamukha noong humingi kami ng time out kasi ibang klase talaga ‘yon,” he added.

Meanwhile, from 28 patients, 48 individuals are now confined in the National Kidney and Transplant Institute.

A total of 22 health workers have also contracted COVID-19 since January.

“So medyo kami magko-control na naman ng admission because, yes, kung wala kang health worker, and also to avoid din ang traffic within the hospital kasi mayroon kaming mga non-COVID patients eh,” NKTI executive director Dr. Rose Liquete said.

On Saturday, the DOH confirmed there is an upward trend in the number of confinement of COVID-19 patients in hospitals over the past weeks.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, however, dismissed the idea that a second wave of COVID-19 has already occurred in the country.

Meanwhile, the OCTA Research group on Sunday said COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila continue to go up at a faster rate.

Metro Manila's reproduction rate for the period went up to 1.66.

The group said the current surge is "spreading more quickly than the July-August surge." It said this may be due to the coronavirus variants detected in the country.

"Based on the current reproduction number, NCR is projected to have 2,000 new Covid-19 cases per day by March 21 and 3,000 new cases per day by March 31, while the country is projected to have 5,000 to 6,000 new cases per day by the end of March," it said. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News