Intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy rates in Metro Manila have already breached the April levels as the number of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases continue to increase in the region, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said on Sunday, Aug. 29.
David said that more COVID-19 patients may still be admitted in ICUs as the surge in Metro Manila's ICU occupancy "has not peaked yet."
He expressed concern that more ICU cases may also lead to more deaths.
"While 200 ICU beds have been added since April, it is not clear if the number of health care workers increased," he said.
David reminded Filipinos to adhere to the minimum public health protocols.
"We need to protect the vulnerable population, even those vaccinated," he said.
David said hospital bed occupancy in Metro Manila has also reached the April level.
On Saturday, Aug. 28, Metro Manila was able to record 5,085 new COVID-19 cases.
"This is just 0.3 percent off our mean projection. This is not a bad number," David pointed out.
He said that Metro Manila's COVID-19 reproduction number was readjusted to 1.47 but is not increasing yet.
"Let us hope and pray the reproduction number continues to decrease on track for the first week of September," he explained.
Reproduction number refers to the average number of secondary infections by each infected individual and is the primary indicator used by OCTA to study COVID trends in the country.