Vergeire says severe, critical COVID-19 cases increasing in the past weeks

Severe and critical cases due to COVID-19 have been increasing in the past weeks, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said Tuesday.

Vergeire made the remark after the DOH on Monday reported that there were 811 severe and critical cases admitted in hospitals as of Sunday, August 21. This was 9.7% of the total COVID-19 admissions.

Of the 23,883 new COVID-19 cases from August 15 to August 21, 2022, 101 individuals were tagged as new severe or critical cases.

“Yes we confirm that the number or percentage of severe and critical infections had been noted to be increasing for these past weeks,” Vergeire said at a press conference.

She, however, noted that despite such an increase, the number of COVID-19 severe and critical cases has not yet exceeded 1,000 cases or the 10% threshold.

“It is still 800 plus—nandun lang tayo sa trend na ‘yun. Although, hindi natin gustong maliitin ‘yung numero na ‘yun dahil nakikita nga natin na may angking pagtaas doon sa severe and critical,” she added.

(It is still 800 plus—-we are just in that trend. Although, we do not want to underestimate that number because we do really see that there is an increase in severe and critical cases.)

Vergeire also pointed out that 60% of admitted severe and critical cases in hospitals are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against COVID-19.

With this, she called on the public to get their primary vaccine series and booster shots to protect themselves from getting serious diseases due to the coronavirus.

“Isa ito sa gusto nating ma-address with this PinasLakas campaign na mabawasan natin ‘yung severe and critical na naa-admit because nababakunahan natin sila and therefore, hopefully, eventually, bababa ang severe and critical, walang masyadong magkakaron ng malubhang sakit,” she said.

(This is one of the things we want to address with this PinasLakas campaign. We want to reduce the severe and critical admissions because we can vaccinate them and there will not be too many serious diseases due to COVID-19.) 

Based on DOH’s data, 699 or 27% of the 2,586 intensive care unit (ICU) beds were occupied as of August 21. Meanwhile, 6,677 or 30.2% of the 22,076 non-ICU COVID-19 beds were in use. — RSJ, GMA News