Hospital capacity for COVID-19 now in 'warning zone' – DOH
The country's healthcare system could get overwhelmed soon as the overall utilization of hospital beds dedicated for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients is now already in the “warning zone,” the Department of Health (DOH) announced Tuesday, July 28.
In fact in the National Capital Region (NCR), the critical care capacity is now in the danger level as more than 70 percent of hospitals’ facilities for COVID-19 are currently being used.
“Ang rehiyon po ng NCR ay nasa danger zone with an occupancy rate of 82.2 percent ,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
As of Tuesday, the country already has a total of 83,673 confirmed COVID-19 cases after 1,678 new infections were recorded. Of these, 55,109 are active cases. Vergeire also reported that four more patients died, bringing the death toll to 1,947, while recoveries jumped to 26,617 after 173 new patients got well.
Vergeire said that the country has 16,388 beds dedicated for COVID-19 patients both in public and private hospitals. Of these, 52.3 percent are currently being utilized and now considered in the “warning zone.”
“Ano ang ibig sabihin nito? Nationally, malapit nang ma-overwhelm ang health system natin,
mapapagod ang ating mga doktor, nars, at mga nag-alaaga sa atin sa ospital ,” said Vergeire during a press briefing Tuesday afternoon.
“Kaya naman ay nakikiusap kami sa inyo na sumunod sa minimum health standards at kung hindi naman importante, manatili muna sa bahay ,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Cordillera Administrative Region as well as Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Davao regions are now in the “warning zone,” said Vergeire.
One solution to address this problem is the “One Hospital Command System” that aims to strengthen the referral system in the different hospitals.
“Through the One Hospital Command System, inaayos po natin ang referral system for both public and private para masiguro na hindi napupuno ang mga ospital. Through this system, pinaiigting din po natin ang coordination ng mga ospital sa mga TTMF (temporary treatment and monitoring facilities) upang mailipat po natin ang mga kasong hindi na nangangailangan ng higher level of care ,” said Vergeire.