OCTA: Capiz ICU utilization for COVID-19 up to 71.4%; NCR HCUR at 36.5%

The intensive care unit (ICU) utilization for COVID-19 in Capiz increased above 70% on Sunday, while the healthcare utilization rate (HCUR) in the National Capital Region (NCR) also went up to 36.5%, independent monitoring group OCTA Research said.

In a tweet on Tuesday, OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David showed data that Capiz’s ICU occupancy rate made a big jump in a span of one week from 42.9% on July 24 to 71.4% on July 31.

The province’s HCUR also rose from 34.1% to 44.6% during the same period.

Meanwhile, HCUR in NCR increased from 31.7% on July 24 to 36.5% on Sunday. Its ICU occupancy, however, slightly went down from 27.3% to 26.9% during the same period.

David also pointed out that HCUR in the province of Bohol and Iloilo, excluding Iloilo City, are now at 59.5% and 56.1%, respectively.

The Department of Health (DOH) defines HCUR as the aggregate of the utilization of ICU, isolation beds, and mechanical ventilators.

The DOH said on Monday that 744 severe and critical cases were admitted in hospitals due to COVID-19 as of July 31.

Of the 2,583 ICU beds, 601 or 23.3% were occupied. Meanwhile, 6,505 or 29.5% of the 22,051 non-ICU COVID-19 beds were in use.

The Philippines also recorded a total of 24,100 new COVID-19 cases from July 25 to July 31, 2022, which was 24% higher than the cases reported from the previous week. — Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA News