The Department of Health (DOH) urged hospitals to expand their bed capacities for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients as the number of infections continue to rise.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III made the appeal during President Duterte's televised public address on Thursday, Sept. 16.

“Dahil sa patuloy na tumataas na healthcare at ICU utilization rate, amin pong paulit-ulit na hinihikayat o inuudyok ang mga hospital at lokal na pamahalaan na maglaan ng sapat na COVID-19 beds, ICU (beds), at mechanical ventilators upang magkaroon ng sapat na kapasidad para sa ating moderate, severe, and critical cases (Due to the increasing healthcare and ICU utilization rates, we appeal to hospitals and local governments to provide adequate COVID-19 beds, ICU beds, and mechanical ventilators in order for us to have sufficient capacities to manage moderate, severe, and critical cases),” said Duque.

Asymptomatic and mild cases should be managed in temporary treatment and monitoring facilities in order not to overwhelm hospitals, he said.

Most of the areas in the country continue to see a spike in COVID-19 cases, said the Health chief.

“Patuloy na tumataas ang mga kaso sa bansa kung saan nananatiling nasa high-risk level ang 92 percent ng ating mga lokalidad. Ito po, 111 out of 121 provinces, highly-urbanized cities and independent component cities (Cases continue to rise in the country where 92 percent of our localities remain at a high-risk level. This is 111 out of 121 provinces, highly-urbanized cities and independent component cities),” he said.

Duque also reminded the LGUs to strictly enforce granular lockdowns to curb the rising number of cases.

“Implement granular lockdowns in areas with increasing cases with identified clusters to cut transmission and lower number of cases needing hospitalization,” he said.

“Ramp up vaccination among priority groups to decrease disease severity and protect vulnerable population,” he added.