Duque says hospital utilization rate in NCR nearing moderate risk

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday said the healthcare utilization rate in Metro Manila is nearing moderate risk.

“Sa [National Capital Region we have a] total of 9,000 beds [for COVID-19],  sa  [Intensive Care Unit], 1,200… Binabantayan itong mga kapasidad natin, at sa ngayon nasa low risk utilization rate pa rin, pero lumapalapit na ‘yan doon sa moderate risk na 50 to 70% ng threshold of utilization rate ng healthcare capacity,” Duque said during the Laging Handa public briefing Wednesday.

(In the National Capital Region, we have a total of 9,000 beds for COVID-19 and 1,200 for Intensive Care Unit. We are monitoring this even though we are still at low risk utilization because we are nearing the moderate risk with 50 to 70% threshold of utilization rate of our healthcare capacity.)

The occupancy rate is considered high risk if it is over 70% but less than 85%. Occupancy rate recorded between 60% to 69% is considered moderate.

Duque reminded the health facilities to maintain the 30% allocation for COVID-19 beds in public hospitals and 20% for private hospitals.

This could be increased to 50% if there are more admissions due to COVID-19, Duque added.

So far, the Health chief said there are 34,000 COVID-19 beds and more than 3,000 ICU beds for patients afflicted with coronavirus nationwide.

In preparation for the surge brought about by Omicron variant, the Health secretary said they already conducted five meetings with the officials from the NCR, Region III and Region IV-A to “guide” them in their COVID-19 response.

“Pinaghahandaan na natin ‘yan (local transmission of Omicron). In fact, naka-limang meetings na kami with the NCR, Region III and Region IV-A para gabayan sila kung ano ang kanilang mga gagwin patungkol sa kanilang paghahanda o pagtugon sa COVID-19,” he said.

(We are preparing for that. In fact, we already had five meetings with the officials in the NCR, Region III and Region IV-A to guide them in their COVID-19 response.)

Duque explained that it is not only the Omicron variant that poses threat to the public’s health, but also the Delta variant, which is believed to be more fatal than the other variants.

With more mild COVID-19 cases expected due to the Omicron variant, Duque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is studying the guidelines for the expansion of home care for COVID-19 patients with mild cases.

“S’yempre nand’yan din ‘yung pinag-uusapan ngayon na home care for mild cases of COVID kasi nga lumalabas sa Omicron e mild ito compared sa Delta [variant],” he said.

(Of course, we are discussing the home care for mild cases of COVID because it appears that Omicron is milder compared to the Delta variant.)

This policy on home care for COIVD-19 patients will prevent the “choking” of hospitals in the country, but Duque said this form of isolation should still be subject to a monitoring system.

“Mayroong mga Barangay Health Emergency Response Team na talagang magmo-monitor kung ano ba ang estado ng pasyente kasi di mo alam na baka yung mild e maya-maya maging moderate, severe, or critical. Dapat handa kaagad kung saan dadalhin na angkop na pasilidad ang mga taong ito,” he said.

(We have Barangay health Emergency Response Team who should monitor the status of the COVID-19 patients because some of the cases might worsen to moderate, severe, or critical. They should be prepared to bring these patients to the appropriate facilities for treatment.)

“Pero wala pang policy patungkol d’yan. So bubuuin pa ‘yan ng IATF batay sa rekomendasyon ng Technical Advisory Group of Experts, na palalawigin natin ang ating quarantine [and] isolation to include  home care for mild COVID cases,” the health chief added.

(But we have no policy for that yet and that should be crafted by the IATF based on the recommendations of the Technical Advisory Group of Experts so we can expand the quarantine and isolation to include those who are under home care for mild COVID-19 cases.)

On Tuesday, the Philippines logged 5,434 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total tally to 2,861,119.

Of the 5,434 fresh cases, the Department of Health said 5,395 (99%) occurred within the last 14 days from December 22, 2021  to January 4, 2022. The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were Metro Manila with 3,826 or 71%, Calabarzon with 864 or 16% and Central Luzon with 333 or 6%.

The Philippines' positivity rate climbed to 26.2% from January 3's positivity rate of 20.7%. — RSJ, GMA News