THE UTILIZATION rate of hospital intensive care units in five regions in Luzon remains at high to critical risk, a health official said Wednesday.
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) show that Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) registered the highest ICU utilization rate at 88 percent (critical risk) followed by Region 3 (Central Luzon) at 87 percent (critical risk); National Capital Region (NCR) at 84 percent (high risk); Region 4-A (Calabarzon) at 83 percent (high risk); and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at 73 percent (high risk).
Meantime, as of April 18, healthcare utilization rate in Region 2 is at 80 percent (high risk); Region 4-A at 70 percent (high risk); CAR at 76 percent (high risk); NCR at 67 percent (moderate risk); and Region 3 at 61 percent (moderate risk).
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire presented the latest figures in an online media briefing, where she cautioned against interpreting the HCUR.
"We need to be very clear, kailangan po ng caution sa pag-interpret ng healthcare utilization rate, gaya po ng sabi namin, nadi-dilute po ito dahil lahat ng levels ng hospital ay kasama po dito (caution is needed in the interpretation of HCUR, like what we said this is diluted because all hospital levels are included)," she said.
The DOH earlier noted that hospitals, especially in the NCR, include admission of mild and asymptomatic cases.
As of April 18, DOH data show that some 1,062 asymptomatic patients and 1,792 mild suspects, probable and confirmed cases are admitted in the NCR hospitals.
Vergeire said the increase in the number of cases is one of the factors affecting the HCUR.
"We're still stable and the average daily cases that we show in our country [is still high]," Vergeire said.
"Kelangan natin ikonsidera that within the hospital, 'pag ikaw ay mild, maari kang mag-progress sa severe, maaari kang mailipat sa ICU o kaya mild naging moderate ka o kaya wala ka pang-test, nandoon ka pa lang sa isolation, nalipat ka sa (We also need to consider that in the hospital, a mild case can progress to severe, be transferred to ICU, or mild case to moderate, or still in the isolation area waiting for the test and transferred to) Covid ward," she added.
Vergeire also reiterated that the decline in the number of reported cases is "artificial" and the results of the enhanced community quarantine, which was lifted about 10 days ago, may be seen next week.
She cited as example the number of cases on April 20, with only over 7,000 reported.
"Katulad kahapon, pitong libo lang ang ating naitala na kaso (Like yesterday, the cases were just 7,000) and when we analyzed, there were a number of labs which were non-operational last Sunday and there were non-reporting laboratories," she said. (By Ma. Teresa Montemayor)
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