DOH: 41 areas under Alert Level 4 over high healthcare utilization

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said 41 areas nationwide have been placed under Alert Level 4 for COVID-19 due to a high healthcare utilization rate.

“Bagamat ‘yung kanilang case trends ay hindi pa ganoon kataas to reach that high risk, pero ‘yung kanilang healthcare utilization, more than 70% na,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told a briefing.

[Although their case trends are not yet at high risk, their healthcare utilization is already more than 70%.]

“So ibig sabihin, nando’n na sila sa level na kailangan na talaga natin gumawa ng mas appropriate na response,” she added.

[That means they are at a level where we really need to make a more appropriate response.]

The 41 areas are:

• Metro Manila: Las Piñas, Malabon, Makati, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, San Juan, Pateros, Quezon City, Taguig, Valenzuela
• Cordillera region: Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet
• Region 1: Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte
• Region 2: Cagayan, Quirino
• Region 3: Angeles City, Pampanga, Tarlac
• Region 4A: Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Lucena City, Rizal
• Region 5: Naga City
• Region 6: Aklan, Iloilo, Iloilo City
• Region 7: Cebu, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Siquijor
• Region 8: Ormoc City
• Region 10: Bukidnon, Cagayan De Oro City, Camiguin
• Region 12: General Santos City, South Cotabato

Earlier in the day, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said the country’s healthcare utilization rate was approaching the moderate-risk level amid a fresh uptick in cases. 

The country has tallied 1,688,040 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 81,399 active cases and 29,374 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon. — BM, GMA News