AS cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue to grow in Metro Manila, the region’s healthcare utilization rate has also gone up and is now above 30 percent occupancy, the independent OCTA Research said yesterday.
Based on its numbers, the OCTA said Metro Manila’s HCUR is at 30.1 percent as of July 11, which is higher than the 28.4 percent hospital utilization rate recorded last July 9.
But the OCTA said the National Capital Region remains to be at “low” risk classification.
In contrast, the group reported that the provinces of Bohol and Iloilo, as well as the city of Olongapo, has escalated to “moderate” risk classification after their hospital bed occupancy rate went above 50 percent.
It said Iloilo province registered 51.7 percent, Bohol 51.4 percent, and Olongapo City 64.9 percent.
The OCTA report also showed several areas remain at low-risk classification in terms of HCUR, and these include Iloilo City (43.2%), Lucena (41.6%), Rizal (38.7%), Batangas (34.2%), Capiz (31%), Laguna (30.8%), and Cavite (30.3%).
In an earlier interview, OCTA fellow Guido David said the hospital occupancy rate is the metrics that is being closely monitored as it will determine if the health care system is being overwhelmed.
“These numbers are very low. So, these are good indicators, actually, not just in the NCR, but in the rest of the Philippines,” David said last Monday.
“Majority are below 50% in hospital utilization and this is the metrics we should be most concerned with,” added David.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday renewed its call to the general public to get their COVID booster shots to maintain their immunity against the virus.
In a public health advisory, the DOH said it is necessary for all eligible individuals to get their booster shots and not be satisfied with their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines because “immunity does not last forever. And, for that reason, we must all get a booster.”
It explained that maintaining the immunity provided by the COVID-19 vaccines is imperative as it minimizes the likelihood of becoming a severe or critical case or dying from COVID-19.
“The likelihood to be very ill or worse, to die, is what matters. Given this information, the choice to be vaccinated and protected from this risk becomes clear,” said the DOH
Government data shows that six out of 10 COVID-19 patients seen in hospitals are not fully vaccinated, while the other four are fully vaccinated or even boosted, but are considered asymptomatic, mild, or moderate cases.
The DOH also pointed how severe and critical COVID-19 symptoms are 1.48 times more likely to affect the unvaccinated, compared to those that have completed their primary series.
Worse, the DOH said the unvaccinated are 1.86 times more likely to die from COVID-19, compared to those who have completed their primary series.
To note, more than 71 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated, as of July 11, but only about 15.3 million individuals have received booster shots.
