Over 3,000 COVID-19 beds added during NCR Plus ECQ —Roque

Over 3,000 beds for COVID-19 patients have been provided for healthcare facilities in the NCR Plus during the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the region, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Sunday.

In his short briefing, Roque said that as of April 11, there are additional 3,156 additional beds for critical, moderate and severe, and mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in the NCR Plus.

These additional beds are broken down as follows:

• 164 COVID-19 ICU beds for critical cases
• 2,227 COVID-19 regular beds for moderate and severe cases
• 765 COVID-19 isolation beds for mild and asymptomatic cases

Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte's directive to PhilHealth to settle its obligations to hospitals with unpaid COVID-19 claims prompted private, national, and local government hospitals to commit additional COVID-19 beds for NCR Plus.

Roque indicated that the utilization rate of beds is now at 74.34% from 83.08% for COVID-19 ICU beds; 46.04% from 62.15% for COVID-19 ward beds; and 59.56% from 64.58% for COVID-19 isolation beds.

The NCR Plus, which includes Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna, will be placed under modified enhanced community quarantine beginning April 12 to 30.

During this period, Roque said there should be an adequate number of COVID-19 dedicated beds, complementary health human resources, and well-coordinated triage and referral systems in place at the local government units (LGUs), isolation and quarantine facilities, and health facilities.

He added that hospitals should be decongested through partnering with other hospitals with temporary treatment and monitoring facilities or step-down facilities for mild or moderate care or home care.

At the same time, Roque encouraged LGUs in the NCR Plus to set up their respective local telehealth triaging systems with enough medical personnel that can provide immediate medical and patient referral advice.

"Another measure that must be implemented in the NCR Plus during the MECQ period is enjoining the LGUs to prioritize the generation of demand for vaccination to those with highest risk for severe disease and death, particularly Priority Groups A2 and A3 of the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19," Roque said.

"Finally, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry are directed to ascertain the number of employees who may undertake alternative work arrangements and its impact on the maximum carrying capacity of the subject area," he added. — BM, GMA News