The nationwide hospital capacity has reached warning zone, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Tuesday.
“Nationally, malapit na po na ma-overwhelm ang health system natin. Mapapagod ang ating mga doktor, nurses, at mga nag-alaaga sa atin sa ospital (Our health system will soon be overwhelmed. Our doctors, nurses, and those who take care of us will become exhausted),” DOH USec. Vergeire said on Tuesday.
Data presented by the DOH showed 51 percent of isolation beds are occupied. The utilization rates for ICU and ward beds are at 53 percent and 57 percent, respectively.
The occupancy rate for both public and private hospital beds for COVID-19 in NCR has reached danger zone at 82 percent. Those who breached the warning zone are CAR, Regions 1, 3, 4A, 6, 7, and 11.
Data also show a rising trend in the occupancy rate of beds and equipment. The DOH said not all hospitals are following the One Hospital Command System that establishes higher bed allocation for COVID-19.
DOH guidelines state that 30 percent of total beds for public hospitals and 20 percent for private hospitals must be dedicated for COVID-19 patients.
Currently, 21.4 percent of public beds and 10.1 percent of private beds are only allocated. The DOH is now planning to expand the system to address the matter.
As of July 29, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country reached 85,486 after 1,874 cases were reported. Recoveries climbed to 26,996 while number of fatalities rose to 1,962.
– Report from Mark Fetalco
