Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said DOH is not yet considering a time out for medical workers at this point despite the increase of COVID-19 cases.
The official said the healthcare utilization of the country remained “manageable level.” However, she admitted that there the number of hospital visits in relation to COVID-19 has increased.
“When we went around nakita natin dumadami po talaga ang mga tao sa ER (emergency room), ang may mga sintomas ng COVID. Pero to say that the system is overwhelmed? No,” she said in an online briefing.
“Pag tinignan po natin ang healthcare utilization we’re still at the manageable level na mayroon pa po tayong almost 50% na puwede ma-accommodate ang ating mga pasyente.”
Vergeirie said the DOH’s current recommendation is to strengthen preventive measures against virus transmissions in the communities.
“Of course, the government is there and very much monitoring kung kailangan talaga ng time out,” she said.
“[Kung] dadating tayo doon sa punto na kakailanganing makahinga ang ating sistema ay iyan naman ay irerekomenda pero sa ngayon hindi pa po natin nakikita yung pangangailangan dahil mino-mobilize natin ang local governments to their localized responses.”
PH healthcare utilization remains at “manageable level” – DOH
The spokesperson of Philippine General Hospital also said Monday that medical frontiers do not need a time out yet, despite the COVID-19 surge in Metro Manila in the recent days.
“Hindi pa naman kasi medyo bago pa lang ito na bumugso ang admissions. Pero siyempre, depende sa trend. We are hoping na hindi tayo bumalik sa dati,” PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said in an interview on GMA’s Unang Hirit.
Last year, frontliners in Metro Manila – which eased the general community quarantine in June – demanded a “time out” and asked that the region be returned to the enhanced community quarantine due to the increase in COVID-19 cases.
The request of the frontliners was granted, and Metro Manila was subjected to a modified enhanced community quarantine for two weeks in August.
As of Sunday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 3,276 new infections. Of the total, 36,043 are active cases undergoing treatment of quarantine, of which 90.6% are mild, 4.2% are asymptomatic, 2.2% are critical, 2.1% are severe and 0.91% are moderate.