ILOILO City – Both this southern city and the province of Aklan posted high utilization of beds in wards dedicated to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, according to the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6.
As of Aug. 8, Iloilo City and Aklan’s COVID ward bed utilization rates were at 88.79 percent and 85.84 percent, respectively, thus considered at “critical risk”.
In Iloilo City, there were 107 COVID beds in the private and public hospitals, of which 95 were already occupied.
The city’s utilization rate for intensive care unit (ICU) beds was also at critical risk after posting 88 percent. There were 150 ICU beds, and 132 were already occupied.
The COVID mechanical ventilator utilization, on the other hand, was at moderate risk. The city had 83, and 55 (66.27 percent) were utilized.
Iloilo City’s overall healthcare utilization rate (HCUR) was at 70.41 percent, deemed as high risk.
Aklan, on the other hand, had 113 beds allotted to coronavirus patients, of which 97 were occupied.
The province’s ICU bed utilization was at moderate risk. About 63.79 percent or 37 out of 58 beds were occupied.
Aklan’s HCUR was 66.53 percent and was considered at moderate risk.
The HCUR of an area is one the parameters being considered by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) for the quarantine classification.
Iloilo City is currently under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the highest classification, while Aklan is on modified ECQ.
1,500 MORE COVID BEDS
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas said the city government would be making available 1,500 more beds for COVID-19 patients.
“While we continue to create ways to immunize our people, we are also making preparations to isolate COVID-stricken Ilonggos. (Some) 1,500 additional beds will open in our quarantine facilities for our moderate and mild patients while we provide them with oxygen to avoid our hospitals being overwhelmed,” said Treñas.
“Tinguhaan gid namon nga maproteksyunan ang tanan,” he added.
Meanwhile, the mayor said the city’s request for a reevaluation of its ECQ status was already endorsed by the Regional IATF to its national counterpart.
“I think they should go over it. Ang aton lang, ginapatan-aw ta nga ang cases naton sa mga ospital mas damo ang halin sa probinsya,”said Treñas.
On the other hand, though Iloilo province was classified as low risk as far as its overall HCUR was concerned, its utilization rate for mechanical ventilators was already 100 percent (critical risk). All of its four mechanical ventilators were all utilized.
Aside from Aklan, the province of Guimaras was also at moderate risk. It posted 65.52 percent overall HCUR – 70.97 percent or 22 of the 31 total COVID beds were occupied, and 69.57 percent or 16 out of 23 total isolation beds are utilized, thus, it was classified as moderate risk.
The province of Capiz, meanwhile, was at high risk in terms of its utilization of COVID beds at 72.13 percent. Of its 44 beds dedicated to coronavirus patients, 61 were occupied.
Generally, Western Visayas’ HCUR was at low risk wherein of the total 2,504 bed capacity, 56.97 percent or 1,425 were occupied.
However, it should be noted that its ICU bed capacity was deemed at high risk. Of the 269 total ICU beds in the region, 193 were occupied.
Meanwhile, the region’s COVID ward bed utilization was at moderate risk wherein 372 out of 593 COVID beds were utilized./PN