DOH rings ‘danger zone’ for COVID-19 isolation and ward beds in NCR

MANILA, Philippines —  Isolation beds and ward beds for COVID-19 patients in the National Capital Region have reached the “danger zone” as more than 70 percent of these are already occupied, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.

In an online press briefing, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said July 12 data show that utilization rate for COVID-19 isolation beds in Metro Manila is at 73.7 percent while ward beds have a 77.4 percent occupancy rate.

“Ang mga percentages na ginagamit ng DOH ay ginagamit upang malaman kung nasa ‘safe’, ‘warning’ at ‘danger’ zone ay base po dito: ‘safe zone’ kung nasa zero to 30 percent pa lang ng COVID-19-dedicated facilities ang nagagamit, ‘warning zone’ naman kung nasa 30-70 percent na ang nagagamit, at ‘danger zone’ kung 70 to 100 percent na ang nagagamit,” Vergeire explained.

(The percentages being used by DOH are being used to determine if it is “safe,” “warning” or “danger” zone is based here: “safe zone” if it’s at zero to 30 percent of the COVID-19 facilities are being used, “warning zone” if it’s at 30 to 70 percent used, and “danger zone” if 70 to 100 percent is already used.)

Further, the DOH spokesperson said 36.3 percent of mechanical ventilators in Metro Manila are now being used by COVID-19 patients.

As for ICU beds in the nation’s capital region, Vergeire said that 61 percent of these are occupied, thus, in the “warning zone.”

As of July 13, DOH reported that the country has 57, 545 COVID-19 cases. This count includes 20,459 recoveries and 1,603 deaths.