DOH: Country’s healthcare system close to being overwhelmed amid rising COVID-19 cases

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 29) – The Department of Health admitted on Tuesday the country’s healthcare system is close to being overwhelmed amid the still rising number of COVID-19 infections nationwide.

DOH Spokesperson Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire noted that 52.3 percent or 8,577 of the 16,388 beds dedicated for COVID-19 patients across the country were occupied as of July 26, signaling the national COVID-19 bed occupancy rate breached the “warning zone.”

“Nationally, malapit na po na ma-overwhelm ang health system natin. Mapapagod ang ating mga doktor, nurses, at mga nag-aalaga sa atin sa ospital. Kaya naman nakikiusap po kami sa inyo na sumunod po tayo sa minimum health standards,” Vergeire said on her daily press briefing.

[Translation: Nationally, we’re close to overwhelm our health system. Our doctor, nurses, and other staff who take care of us in the hospital will get tire. That’s why we are appealing to you to follow the minimum health standards.]

The Health Department classified an area as a “warning zone” when a medical facility utilized 30 to 70 percent of its operations for COVID-19-related cases, while the “safe zone” classification is when facilities are utilizing 0 to 30 percent of its areas for virus patients. A “danger zone” designation means that hospitals or areas have 70 to 100 percent utilization for COVID-19 victims.

Vergeire added Metro Manila’s COVID-19 bed occupancy rate is currently at the “danger zone” level as 82.2 percent or 4,302 beds are currently occupied for virus-hit persons in the region.

While Regions 1, 3, 4A, 4B, 6, 7, 11, and Cordillera Administrative Region are in the “warning zone” level in the country’s COVID-19 bed occupancy rate.

The DOH spokesperson mentioned that not all hospitals are complying with the department’s order to allocate 30 percent of beds in public hospitals and 20 percent of beds in private hospitals for COVID-19 related cases.

The DOH ordered hospitals last July 22 to allocate 50 to 70 percent of their bed capacity to COVID-19 cases if there will be a sudden surge in infections.

“Sa kasalukuyan po, 21.4 percent ng public beds, at 10.1 percent ng private beds pa lamang ang nakalaan para sa COVID-19. Kulang pa po ito, kaya naman pinag-uusapan ng ahensya kung paano po itong papataasin pa,”said Vergeire.

[Translation: Currently, only 21.4 percent of public hospitals beds and 10.1 percent of private hospitals beds are allocated for COVID-19. It’s still not enough, that’s why we are deliberating on how those bed capacities will be increased.]

To date, the country now has 83,673 confirmed COVID-19 cases along with 55,109 active infections. Some 1,947 persons died and 26,617 individuals recovered from the virus in the country.