Critical care capacity for ICU beds reaches ‘danger zone’ –DOH exec

Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega. PRESIDENTIAL FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The critical care capacity for intensive care unit (ICU) beds in the country have reached its “danger zone,” Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said Monday.

During an online Palace briefing, Vega noted the increasing occupancy of beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients.

“Tumataas ngayon ang occupancy ng COVID isolation beds. Nata-track po namin ito through the bed tracker system ng Department of Health at ito po ay kasama sa aming mga dashboard…’Yung ating ICU beds, ito rin ay dahan dahang tumataas,” Vega said.

(The occupancy of COVID isolation beds is increasing. We are tracking this through the Department of Health’s bed tracker system. Our ICU beds’ [occupancy] is also gradually increasing.)

“Actually, the critical bed capacity especially for the ICUs, according to our data, nasa danger zone. It’s about mga 70 percent,” he added.

(Actually, the critical bed capacity especially for the ICUs, according to our data, is already in the danger zone. It’s about 70 percent.)

Last week, the DOH said at least 11 hospitals in Metro Manila have reached the full capacity of their beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients.

“We are trying to prepare the public hospitals, especially the government hospitals na they have to adjust in the number of their ICU beds because we have to be ready for this because we are in a crisis,” Vega said, adding that private hospitals should allocate 30 percent of their beds to COVID-19 patients.

“We are trying to collaborate with the different health facilities so that we will work as a network and there’s a system to it rather than move independently with each other,” he went on.

The DOH reported on Monday 2,124 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 56,259.

Of the number, 38,676 are active cases of which mostly are either mild or asymptomatic.

JPV