COVID-19 SURGE

Some hospitals in Makati, QC, Taguig already under 'high risk' category —DOH exec

The capacity of some hospitals in three Metro Manila cities are now under “high risk” category, which means the occupancy of their COVID-19 bed capacity has reached 80 to 85%, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said Thursday.

This, as the daily new COVID-19 cases recorded in the country in the past six days had been more than 4,000. 

“May mga areas lalong lalo na sa Makati, Quezon City, at Taguig, napansin namin yung ibang private and public hospital, nasa high risk category na… Minsan may umaabot ng 80 to 85 percent,” said Vega on Balitanghali.

(We found out that in some hospitals especially in Makati, Quezon City and Taguig, both public and private, are already in high-risk category. Some of them reaching 80 to 85 percent of their capacity.)

Meanwhile, Vega said although healthcare utilization rate nationwide is still at low risk with 43% occupancy for hospitals, the trend is increasing.

“All over the country, mapapansin natin na kahit tumataas yung COVID-19 positive cases, tumatama ang healthcare utilization sa 43% sa mga isolated beds, which is low risk pero tumataas na po ito pero compared two weeks ago na nasa 30 plus [percent],” he said.

(Even if the COVID-19 cases increase, healthcare utilization is still at low risk but this is still an increase compared to two weeks ago, which is at 30 plus percent.)

How to address surge

Asked about the government’s response if surge in cases continues, Vega said they are planning to coordinate with hospitals in Central Luzon and Calabarzon to assist other hospitals in full capacity.

“Yung One Hospital Command natin nagko-coordinate natin sa Region 3 and Region 4. Inaayos ang correspondence at connection sa different private hospitals sa Region 3 and 4… baka magta-transfer ng One Hospital Command sa mga patient ng nangangailangan ng care sa outside of Metro Manila,” he said.

(We coordinated with hospitals in Region 3 and 4 for the transfer of patients in need of care outside of Metro Manila.)

Vega said they also added more intensive care unit beds as well as modular beds in different hospitals.

He added that the Department of Health is open to help hospitals that need additional health workers in case they are overwhelmed.

“Kung pa gusto nila ng more personnel para [makatulong] ang clinical care ng COVID-19 patients, handa naman ang DOH tumulong,” he said when asked about hospitals that are understaffed.

(DOH is ready to help if they need more personnel for the clinical care of patients.)

OCTA research group predicted that 11,000 cases of COVID-19 will be recorded daily by end of March. It also recorded a 2.03 reproduction number, which means one COVID-19 patient can infect two people. 

Vega also previously said that as cases soar, calls from the One Hospital Command also increased dramatically. 

The One Hospital Command Center is a referral system for providers such as hospitals, quarantine facilities and medical transportation, which will help fast track the emergency health care needs during the pandemic. Those in need of its service free Pure Force Citizens application, calling the hotlines 02-886-505-00, 0915-777-7777 and 0919-977-3333, or by scanning its Quick Response (QR) code. —KBK, GMA News