By Alec Go
The Department of Health (DOH) has reported another record high of 34,021 additional COVID-19 cases on Thursday (Jan. 13), bringing the country’s active case tally to 237,387.
The latest report brings the total cases recorded since the pandemic to 3,092,409, with 2,802,286 recoveries including 4,694 that are new, and 52,736 deaths including 82 new fatalities.
The DOH report showed 47.9% of the 78,866 tested on Jan. 11 are positive for COVID-19.
There are currently 298 critical cases, 1,468 severe, 2,881 moderate, 225,408 mild, and 7,332 asymptomatic cases.
In terms of healthcare utilization, the nationwide data for intensive care units (ICU) occupancy is at 45%, isolation beds at 46%, ward beds at 45%, and ventilators at 19%.
In Metro Manila, ICUs have an occupancy rate of 58%, isolation beds at 54%, ward beds at 66%, and ventilators at 26%.
Under control
In the government’s Jan. 13 Laging Handa briefing, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said the situation is “manageable” as he noted that the increase in the number of cases has a different trajectory.
“Nakikita natin na iyong hospitalization ay nasa low risk category pa rin ang buong bansa. At saka iyong dito naman sa Metro Manila nasa border line ng low risk at saka moderate risk at 60%,” he said.
“Kaya very manageable at this time, at saka kakaiba talaga compared with the last wave na nakita natin with the Delta variant,” he added.
Vega said the country’s referral system or the One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) has been receiving 1,120 daily calls, up from the 98 to 112 in early December.
This is also higher than the 780 to 800 calls during the September case surge.
However, 60% of the new calls are searching for quarantine and isolation facilities or are seeking assistance for home quarantine.
“Ito ngayong January, nakita natin iyong mga tawag mostly on the isolation facilities, home isolation, at saka kakaunti na iyong referrals namin. Nasa mga 15% iyong referrals namin for the hospital and for the intensive care unit services,” he said.
Meanwhile, the DOH has recommended shortening the quarantine period for fully vaccinated positive individuals with mild symptoms or without symptoms, and close contacts of COVID-19 cases.
Read more: DOH recommendation shortens quarantine of vaccinated cases, close contacts
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has yet to approve the recommendations.
