All hospitals should start to increase their bed allocation for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients in preparation for the possible surge in cases amid growing concerns on the Omicron variant, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said.
Currently, the healthcare utilization rate (HCUR) nationwide is still under the low-risk classification, said Health Undersecretary and Treatment Czar Dr. Leopoldo Vega.
“Overall, the HCUR of the country is still at low risk. We are seeing a trend of increase admissions in NCR (National Capital Region) and HCUR is still low,” said Vega in a text message to Manila Bulletin on Sunday, January 2.
Despite the still low-risk classification, Vega urged hospitals to already increase their bed capacities for COVID-19.
“We have called on hospitals to reopen beds for COVID and the isolation facilities in preparation for an upcoming surge,” he added.
One Hospital Command Center
In a radio interview on Sunday, Vega said that the country's One Hospital Command Center— which facilitates COVID-19 patient referral —also started to observe a rise in calls it has been receiving recently.
"Siguro pag apak nitong last week of December, napapansin na ng One Hospital Command---talagang tumataas na yung COVID calls, yung mga inquiries about COVID (During the last week of December, the One Hospital Command noticed that the COVID calls are really increasing---- the inquiries about COVID)," he said.
“Tumaas yung number of calls ng One Hospital Command about COVID and referrals (The number of calls to the One Hospital Command about COVID and referrals has increased),” he added.
Vega, who also heads the One Hospital Command Center, said that they are receiving at least 200 calls per day.
“Noong peak of December, nagkaroon ng calls ang One Hospital, mga 80 to 100. Ngayon lately sa last few days ng December, tumaas na ho ito. Umaabot ng 150 to 200 calls. So dahan-dahan talagang tumataas (During the peak of December, the One Hospital received about 90 to 100 calls. Now it is up to 150 to 200 calls) ,” he said.
The DOH also urged the public to remain vigilant at this point in time.
“Nakikita natin yung trend--talagang paghahandaan natin ito lalo na itong Omicron dahil highly transmissible siya kaya kailangan talaga ng pag-iingat (We are seeing the trend----we should definitely prepare for it, especially that this Omicron variant is highly transmissible. So we really need to be careful),” said Vega.
DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag also reminded the public not to let their guards down and do their part in combating the rise in COVID-19 cases.
“Dapat, bawat pamilya po ay sineseryoso po iyan. Kaya nga binibigay sa inyo ang report kung ilang bilang na ang pagtaas kasi may dapat tayong gawin (Every family should take this seriously. That is why we are giving you the (case) report daily because it serves as a signal that we have to do something),” he said in a separate radio interview.