The intensive care unit (ICU) utilization rate in five regions, which include the National Capital Region, remain at high critical risk, the Department of Health said Wednesday, April 21.
In a virtual forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the latest Health Facility Capacity Report (April 18) showed that the ICU utilization rate in NCR is at 84 percent (high risk), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at 73 percent (high risk), Cagayan Valley at 88 percent (critical risk), Central Luzon at 87 percent (critical risk) and Calabarzon at 83 percent (high risk)
She said as to the health care utilization rate, in NCR its at 67 percent (moderate risk), CAR at 76 percent (high risk), Region II at 80 percent (high risk), Region III at 61percent (moderate risk) and Region IV-A at 70 percent (high risk).
"The healthcare utilization rate of priority regions are at moderate to high risk levels," said Vergeire.
The occupancy rate, she said, remains high due to the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases.
"One aspect would be the increase in the number of cases. We can see that the average daily cases are still stable," said Vergeire.
She said there are also cases where if one is mild, their cases may progress into severe or criticial and may need transfer to the ICU beds.
Vergeire said there are also hospitals, especially in the NCR, where admissions of mild and asymptomatic is still at 41 percent.
Meanwhile, she said COVID-19 patients who are undergoing home care should have access to internet access so as to have immediate access to telemedicine services.
"They need to have that IT infrastructure because those on home care must be linked to telemedicine so we can guide them on how to go about home care," said Vergeire.
"They need to be accessible while at home so they can get adequate guidance on how to handle COVID-19 at home," she added.