COVID-19 ICU occupancy rate nearing moderate risk — treatment czar

MANILA, Philippines — The occupancy rate for COVID-19 dedicated intensive care units (ICU) is already nearing the moderate risk as the country battles a fresh surge of infections, treatment czar Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said Friday.

In an online press briefing, Vega also noted that the overall healthcare utilization for COVID-19 patients is at low-risk 41-percent.

“Sa healthcare utilization across the country, we still have a low risk but this is already at 41 percent pero ang nangyayari po sa report po natin, ‘yung ICU utilization across the country po ay tumaas na, nearing the threshold of moderate risk,” he said.

(On healthcare utilization across the country, we are still at low risk but it is already at 41 percent. Our report shows that the ICU utilization in the country has increased and is nearing the threshold of moderate risk.)

Data from the COVID-19 tracker of the Department of Health (DOH) showed that 54.34 percent of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients are already occupied. Meanwhile, occupancy for isolation beds is at 42.86 percent and 40.76 percent for ward beds.

COVID-19 ward admission rate

The DOH classifies occupancy rate at the safe level if it is less than 60 percent, moderate risk at 60 to less than 70 percent, high risk at 70 to less than 85 percent, and critical at more than 85 percent.

According to Vega, the utilization rate for COVID-19 ward and isolation beds is increasing in Metro Manila and is at “high-moderate” risk.

He said that the admission rate for COVID-19 ward beds is increasing particularly in Makati, Quezon City, Taguig, and Manila since mild cases are being admitted in hospitals in these areas.

Vega earlier said during a televised briefing that the temporary treatment and monitoring facilities in Metro Manila are already 78-percent occupied.

With the increase of COVID-19 cases, Vega said the government is set to inaugurate two modular hospitals in Quezon City and Batangas this coming April.

Modular hospitals

He said the DOH in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has initiated efforts to build modular hospitals since last year as part of preparations for a possible surge in cases.

One of these modular hospitals to open next month is located at the Quezon Institute, according to Vega.

“Natapos na po ito. This is a 110-bed facility. Hospital po ito, para po sa moderate and severe. Magiging functional ‘yan after the Holy Week, April 8,” he said.

(This has been finished. This is a 110-bed facility. This is a hospital for moderate and severe cases. It will be functional after the Holy Week, on April 8.)

Vega said the modular hospital will be operated and managed by the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

According to Vega, another 44-bed modular hospital will also be operational in front of the Batangas Medical Center before the third week of April.

He added that a modular facility was likewise inaugurated at the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial (Tala) Hospital in Caloocan City last week but it still needs a staff to be operational.

Vega said that the DOH and the DPWH are proposing the creation of more modular hospitals, especially at the Lung Center of the Philippines since it has a large space.

The country has so far recorded a total of 693,048 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic reached Philippine shores in 2020. Of the total, 99,891 are active cases, 580,062 are recoveries, and 13,095 are deaths.

RELATED STORIES:

‘High risk:’ NCR’s occupancy rate for COVID-19 ICU beds at 74%

Several NCR hospitals declare full capacity for COVID-19 cases

/MUF