DOH flags 3 regions due to high hospital utilization rate


In this file photo taken on April 21, 2020, a member of the Philippine National Police Special Action Forces uses a megaphone to remind shoppers to practice social distancing during a government imposed enhanced quarantine as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Manila. (Photo by Maria TAN / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)

The Department of Health (DOH) flagged the increasing healthcare utilization rates in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Western Visayas, and Davao region.

“We have three regions whose risk classification is at high risk. These are regions 11, 6, and CAR,” said DOH Epidemiology Bureau Director Dr. Alethea De Guzman.

The occupancy rate of intensive care unit beds as of July 10 in Davao region is at 81.41 percent, Western Visayas with 87.34 percent, and CAR with 68.54 percent, said De Guzman.

De Guzman said that “nationally, the overall case risk classification remained low,” as the country’s average daily attack rate (ADAR) of COVID-19 cases “continue to decrease in the recent week.”

She noted that from July 6 to 12, the average daily cases stood at 5,221 as compared to the 5,458 cases recorded on June 29 to July 5.

“After an increase at the start of June, cases have decreased below the seven-day moving average,” said De Guzman.

NCR situation

Meanwhile, cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) are also still on the decline but in a “very slow” manner in the past four weeks, the Health official said.

However, the cities of Makati and San Juan remain at “high-risk” classification because of their ADAR--- which currently stood at 9.76 and 8.95 cases per 100,000 population, respectively.

The DOH also observed a “positive” two-week growth rate in seven areas in Metro Manila. These are Makati, San Juan, Muntinlupa, Mandaluyong, Manila, Malabon, and Navotas.

Visayas and Mindanao

De Guzman also noted that the COVID-19 case trend in Central Visayas is currently “plateauing.” The Eastern Visayas, meanwhile, “is showing a continuous downward trend in cases.”

“Bohol, Cebu, Cebu City, and Lapu-Lapu City (are) showing an upward trend in cases, while Negros Oriental exhibits a downward trend in cases,” said De Guzman.

In Mindanao, the cases of COVID-19 are also decreasing, she said.

“Except for Region 12, all regions in Mindanao (are) showing a decrease in cases,” she said.