The Philippine College of Physicians is alarmed over the increasing count of severe and critical cases of confirmed COVID-19 cases within the past week.
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) show that recorded critical cases have hit the 2-percent mark since September 13 and climbed to 3.1 percent in September 20. The percentage of severe cases has played within the 1.1 to 1.4 range from September 8 to 21.
“Kung titingnan po natin sa ngayon, pataas po nang pataas ang dami ng mga kaso na severe o kaya critical. Ang ibig sabihin nito, marami sa mga nakikita namin ngayon, bagamat kumaunti po ang kaso compared sa mga nakaraang linggo, mas marami po kaming nakikitang kaso na mas severe at kakailanganin talagang maipasok sila sa ICU (If we look at it now, the number of severe and critical cases is rising. This means that while we see the number of cases decreasing last week, we are seeing more severe cases that need to be admitted to the ICU),” PCP VP Dr. Maricar Limpin pointed out.
DOH data show that the occupancy rate of ICU beds is at 48 percent nationwide, isolation beds at 43 percent, ward beds at 46 percent, and mechanical ventilators at 27 percent. The occupancy rate of ICU beds is at 65 percent in the NCR and 53 percent in Calabarzon, while the utilization of ventilators is at 39 percent in NCR and 23 percent in Calabarzon.
The DOH has earlier stated that COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe cases with comorbidity must only be admitted to hospitals to prevent overcrowding in hospitals.
“Napansin din po namin na karamihan din sa mga Pilipino na may severe to critically ill cases, marami sa kanila ay hindi rin nakakita ng doktor ni minsan man lamang bago sila nagpunta ng ospital (We observed that many Filipinos with severe to critically ill cases have not seen doctors before being admitted to hospitals),” Limpin continued.
As of Sept. 22, there are 291,789 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 230,643 recoveries and 5,049 fatalities nationwide. – Report from Mark Fetalco
