Healthcare utilization rate in NCR up by 21 percentage points — Duque

Metro Manila’s health care utilization rate has increased by 21 percentage points amid the surge of COVID-19 cases in the capital region, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday night.

In a briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte, Duque said despite this, the overall healthcare utilization rate in Metro Manila remains in a “safe zone.”

He said the rise in healthcare utilization rate was also seen in Regions 4A, 2, Cordillera Administrative Region, 3, 4B, and 6.

With this, Duque urged the public to continue observing minimum health standards to curb the spread of the virus.

He also urged local government units and hospitals to refer patients in the right facilities depending on their symptoms.

“Mainam na ang mga asymptomatic at mild patients ay ma-isolate sa temporary treatment and monitoring facilities upang hindi mabilaukan ang ating mga ospital,” Duque said.

He also reminded hospitals to follow the health system capacity standard or the 30% dedicated beds for public hospitals and 20% for private hospitals.

“Para hindi maubusan ng kama para sa mga malubhang sintomas ng COVID,” Duque said.

So far, the country has 80,970 active COVID-19 cases with total confirmed cases at 671,792.

The country has registered over 7,000 new COVID-19 cases daily from March 19 to 21 and posted a record-high 8,019 new COVID-19 infections on March 22. -- BAP, GMA News

Currently, the country has detected 223 B.1.1.7 (UK) variant cases, 152 B.1.351 (South Africa) variant cases, one P.1 (Brazil) variant case, and over 100 P.3 variant vases.

The OCTA Research group has said new cases could reach up to 20,000 daily if the surge is not contained.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/779641/20-000-new-covid-19-cases-a-day-possible-by-april-if-surge-not-contained-octa/story/?just_in