DOH: ICU occupancy rate in NCR rose to 79%

The occupancy rate of intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients in the National Capital Region has climbed to 79%, data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed Tuesday.

Based on the latest bulletin, 77% of the 4,200 ICU beds in the Philippines are occupied while 79% of the total 1,400 beds in NCR are in use.

Due to this, ICU beds in the country and in the region are at high risk amid the pandemic. High risk means the occupancy rate is more than 70% but less than 85%.

Meanwhile, ward beds nationwide and in NCR are also at high risk.

Around 74% of the country’s 16,000 ward beds are in use while 74% of the 4,500 ward beds in NCR are being utilized.

Data also showed that 57% of the 3,200 mechanical ventilators in the country are being utilized while 62% of the total 1,200 ward beds in NCR are in use.

The Philippines earlier reported 18,056 new COVID-19 infections.

This brings the nationwide tally to 2,266,066 confirmed cases, of which 2,052,867 have recovered and 35,529 have succumbed to the illness.

Meanwhile, starting September 16, NCR will be under Alert Level 4 during the first week of the pilot implementation of granular lockdown.

The DOH has previously admitted that there is a “disconnect” between their data and the actual situation on the ground.

Medical frontliners have urged the DOH to look into the disconnect.—AOL, GMA News