DOH hospitals decongested amid drop in COVID-19 cases, says Duque

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday said Department of Health hospitals are already "decongested" after noting a decrease in admitting patients in emergency rooms as COVID-19 cases slowly decline.

"Bumaba ng 21% pending admissions sa emergency rooms ng ating DOH hospitals mula April 18 to May 2.  Nakita rin namin na bumaba ang bilang ng emergency room patients na nag refer sa step down facilities," said Duque during the Talk to the Nation this week.

"Nangangahulugan ito na-decongested ang ating mga level 2 and level 3 hospitals," the health chief added.

Duque attributed this to the increase of COVID-19 beds.

In Metro Manila, Duque said intensive care unit capacity in hospitals went up from 215 on April 18 to 400 ICU beds on May 2.

However, Duque mentioned that COVID-19 hospital bed utilitization rate  in Cagayan Valley is still at high risk with 72% while ICU utilization rate in Metro Manila is also still at high risk with 74% utilization rate.

"Balak  po natin mapababa to moderate risk and then eventually low risk or less than 60% ICU utilization rate," Duque added.

Earlier, the health department reported that COVID-19 cases in the Philippines slowly declined as the national two-week case growth rate decreased to -15% from 11% three to four weeks ago.

It also noted that the average daily attack rate (ADAR) in Metro Manila also fell to 25 cases per 100,000 population from April 18 to May 1, which is lower than the ADAR of 34 infections per 100,000 people from April 4 to 17.

After the Philippines experienced an upsurge of COVID-19 infections in late March up to April, several hospitals in the country were overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.

Most patients would have difficulty seeking treatment as most hospitals are already fully occupied.

Operational COVID-19 facilities

In the same televised briefing, Public Works and Highways chief Mark Villar 23,046 beds at 603 quarantine and isolation facilities are currently operational in the country.

Villar also said 1,228 bed capacities are being utilized at 49 off-site dormitories.

He also pointed out that 239 beds at 10 modular hospitals are being used.

Villar said they are also working on increasing bed capacity in the following modular hospitals:

• Quezon Institute -- 2 more units, 44 more beds
• Lung Center Center of the Philippines - 110 more bed capacity
• Southern Philippines Medical Center - 44 more bed capacity
• V. Luna Medical Center -- 22 more beds
• Ospital ng Maynila - 22 more beds
• Pasig City General Hospital - 22 more beds
• Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center - 44 more beds

-- BAP, GMA News