Malacañang on Monday denied reports that hospital beds in the National Capital Region (NCR) are becoming scarce amid the rise in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said a 30 percent capacity of all hospital beds in the country has been reserved for COVID-19. These beds have not yet been fully occupied.
“Ang critical care utilization po ng Metro Manila – at ito po ay kasama na iyong hospital beds, iyong ICU beds, iyong mechanical ventilator at saka mga isolation beds – ay nasa 63% or ito po ay moderate risk pa lamang (The critical utilization in Metro Manila – the hospital beds, ICU beds, mechanical ventilators, and isolation beds – is at 63% or at moderate risk),” Secretary Roque reported.
Roque mentioned the country cannot afford another widespread lockdown as the economy needs to be opened amid the spike in case count.
“Kapag tayo po ay bumalik sa mas istriktong quarantine, baka wala na po tayong hanapbuhay na pwedeng gawin. So kinakailangan ngayon pa lang po gamitin na natin ang mga sandata na alam nating epektibo sa pagpapabagal po ng sakit. (If we go back to a stricter quarantine, we may no longer have jobs. So we need to use all our weapons that we know are effective to slow down the disease).”
The IATF-EID is set to meet again to further discuss the COVID-19 situation and President Duterte will address the nation on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Roque clarified the disposition of President Duterte during his public address last Friday is “not health-related” and “more of an emotional issue.”
“Talagang emotional po siya. At some point, nagka-crack po ang kaniyang voice at doon ko lang nakita na talagang he took it very personal, itong nangyari sa Jolo (He was emotional. At some point, his voice cracked. That’s the only time I saw how he took the Jolo incident very personal).” – Report from Mela Lesmoras
