According to a report by the OCTA Research Group, health care utilization in the National Capital Region (NCR) can be considered in the safe zone, according to a report by the OCTA Research Group that used data from the Department of Health (DOH).
According to the report, hospital bed occupancy is only at 35 percent in NCR, while intensive care unit bed occupancy is at 46 percent.
The OCTA report also showed that the average daily cases in Metro Manila dropped by 13 percent or 829 from June 9 to June 15.
So Dr. Alethea de Guzman of the Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau reminded to continue to take precautions in conjunction with the gradual relaxation of quarantine restrictions.
“The approach we want to take is we can’t stay in this very high community quarantine. That’s why we want to move forward, but it’s with the mensahe na kahit tayo ay naglo-loosen, kailangan in place itong mga safety protocols natin,” said De Guzman.
But if we look at regions outside the NCR, the discussion is different.
In an interview with TeleRadyo, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines President Dr. Jose Rene de Grano said facilities are still lacking in the regions due to the ever-increasing number of cases.
The DOH had earlier said that there were 36 areas they considered priority areas due to the kick-off of COVID-19 cases or high health care utilization.
Health care utilization in NCR can be considered in ‘safe zone’
Butuan City is one of them, which according to city administrator Rey Desiata records 70 cases per day.
As a result, the city’s modified enhanced community quarantine status was extended until the end of June.
According to Desiata, the number of cases has increased due to non-compliance with minimum health standards and COVID-19 variants.
In Davao City, even though the hospitals are full, those infected with the disease can still have access, according to Dr. Michelle Slaucer, spokesperson of the city’s COVID-19 task force.
The average number of dialysis cases in Davao last week reached 200 to 300, Slauce said.
That is why strict surveillance swabbing will continue to be conducted in areas with high cases, and demand for negative swab tests and implementation of 14-day quarantine on those arriving in Davao.
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