Malacañang explained that despite the rising number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, Metro Manila will be staying under Alert Level 3 until the end of the month because the region did not meet the required bed utilization rate.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles made the statement after announcing that the National Capital Region (NCR), along with 81 other areas, will be under the said risk classification until January 31, 2022.
In his press briefing on Friday, January 14, Metro Manila will only be escalated to Alert Level 4 if its bed utilization rate will reach over 70 percent.
"Kapag tumama po iyan sa (If it hits) 71 percent, then that’s when it would be right to elevate Metro Manila to Alert Level 4. But obviously, that’s something that we must be able to manage," he said.
"Iniiwasan natin ang (We are preventing) Alert Level 4 because that would mean na ang healthcare utilization rate natin ay mataas (that our healthcare utilization rate is high)," he added.
As of January 14, Metro Manila's bed utilization rate stands at:
- ICU beds (1,100 beds): 55 percent utilized
- Isolation beds (5,000 beds): 55 percent utilized
- Ward beds (4,400 beds): 67 percent utilized
- Ventilators (1,000 units): 26 percent utilized
According to the acting Palace spokesman, the government is managing the country's healthcare utilization rate by ensuring that only those who are in critical need, who are severe COVID-19 cases, those who are vulnerable, and those who belong in the A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (with comorbidities) categories are in the hospitals.
" hospitals beds should be reserved only to those who need it most which are severe, critical cases, and vulnerable – those with comorbidities and the elderly," he said.
Nograles reiterated that mild COVID-19 patients, especially those who are asymptomatic, if possible, should isolate at home and be managed through telemedicine.
If the patient's house is not conducive for home quarantine, they will be transferred to a temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF) where they will be managed.
However, the Palace official had said that it would be up to the local government concerned if an entire family affected by COVID-19 should be moved to a facility or to just allow them to finish their quarantine at home.
Last week, the government's pandemic task force has ordered the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 to implement an increase in the availability of bed capacity in the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal (NCR-plus).
It had likewise approved the policy shift for the quarantine and isolation of COVID-19 patients, allowing those who are asymptomatic or show mild or moderate symptoms to undergo home isolation.