DOH: Low COVID-19 health utilization rate means we’re okay, no need to panic

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said that there is no need to panic amid the rising infections of COVID-19, as the health utilization rate remains low throughout the country.

“Ang mas importante na tinitignan at focus ay utilization ng hospital, so kahit na nakikita natin na may … increase sa mga kaso, hanggang sa nakikita natin na mababa pa rin ang utilization sa ospital, we are okay at hindi natin kailangan mangamba,” said DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing.

(The most important thing to look at and focus on is the utilization of the hospital, so even if we see that there is an increase in cases until we see that the utilization in the hospital is still low, we are okay, and we don’t need to be afraid.)

“Sa ngayon po ang bansa mababa pa rin ang risk natin, we are ranging from 9 percent to just about 33 percent across the regions of our country,” she added.

(Right now in the country, our risk is still low, ranging from 9 percent to just about 33 percent across the regions of our country.)

Vergeire further explained that even if some hospitals have reported being full, the same hospitals have stated that it is not because of COVID-19.

“Rest assured to all of our citizens, nakahanda po ang ating mga ospital, dumaan na po tayo sa iba’t ibang variant diyan lalo na noong time ng delta, natuto na tayo,” assured Vergeire.

(Rest assured to all of our citizens, our hospitals are ready, we have gone through different variants already, especially during the delta period, and we have learned our lesson.)

“Our hospitals will implement the accordion principle kung saan kapag tumataas ang kaso at kailangan magbukas ng mas marami pang kama, kaya po nating gawin ‘yan,” she added.

(Our hospitals will implement the accordion principle where when the case increases and we need to open more beds, we can do that.)

Positivity rate

Vergeire, in the same briefing, then explained that the COVID-19 positivity rate is not the only basis for assessing the country’s COVID-19 situation as it is only derived from the number of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in a specific number of RT-PCR tests conducted.

“At kung tinignan po natin ngayon kumpara sa dati, napakakonti na po ng mga taong nagpapa-test sa ngayon,” said Vergeire.

(And if we look now compared to before, there are very few people taking tests.)

“So it’s really affected by a lot of factors at hindi po natin dapat ginagamit na ‘yan lang ang basihan para masabi natin kung ano ang sitwasyon sa ating bansa, it would be unfair for our local governments and our other sectors kung magdedeklara tayo na magpapapanic na tayo, na high risk na tayo, just because of our positivity rate,” she added.

(So it’s really affected by a lot of factors, and we shouldn’t use that as the only basis for us to say what the situation is in our country, it would be unfair for our local governments and our other sectors if we declare that we are going to panic, we are high risk, just because of our positivity rate.)

To recall, independent pandemic monitor Octa Research on Tuesday reported that the weekly COVID-19 positivity rate in Metro Manila increased to 10.6 percent as of April 23 from the previous week’s 7.3 percent.

Octa said that the results were taken from the average of 3,120 tests conducted per day from April 17 to 23 — which it noted to be lower than the average 11,000 per day during the same period in 2022.

Vergeire then reminded the public to remain vigilant against COVID-19 and to know when to assess when they should wear face masks, especially in crowded places and transportation.

She also urged the public to get vaccinated, and boosted.

Based on the DOH’s online COVID-19 tracker as of April 24, the country’s total COVID-19 caseload is currently at 4,089,394, with 4,018,614 recoveries, 66,444 deaths and only 4,336 active infections.

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