ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Hospital occupancy rates for COVID-19 in Western Visayas are low enough to cope with a surge in cases in April, the Western Visayas Health Ministry or Region 6 (DOH-6) said Thursday, April 13.
DOH-6 reported an increase in COVID-19 cases in April 2023 to 11 cases on the day to just six cases on the day in March.
On April thirteenth alone, DOH-6 recorded 20 new cases of COVID-19 in the region, adding seven cases in Iloilo City; five in the city of Bacolod; 4 in the province of Iloilo; two in Negros Occidental and one in Aklan.
Despite the backlog of cases, the regional rate of physical care use (HCUR) remains low risk, said Dr. Brown. Bea Camille Natalaray, DOH-6 infectious disease section leader.
HCUR refers to the occupancy of hospital beds committed to COVID-19 patients.
Only 19. 09 or 384 beds are in use lately out of the region’s 2,012 isolation/COVID-19 beds, extensive care beds and mechanical ventilators, Natalay said.
Even though cases continue this month, there are enough hospital beds in the area, he added.
Health officials have suggested citizens get vaccinated, wear masks again at indoor gatherings and self-isolate at the first flu-like symptoms.
In the city of Iloilo, the local government has made the use of face masks mandatory at City Hall.
The town of Iloilo recorded 31 cases from April 1 to April 12, more than a fraction of the 44 cases in March, according to the City’s Health Bureau (CHO).
The head of the city of Iloilo COVID-19 task force, Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, said the average number of cases in the subway in April had risen to 3 cases per day from about one case per day in January, February and March.
The spike in cases may be due to mass gatherings in the regions amid the relaxation of fitness and protective restrictions, he said.
The city’s testing centers were also closed during Holy Week, Fortuna added. Data collected in previous days will only be released this week.
“We have again required the use of face masks at City Hall,” said Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
“Face mask infection will not accumulate in enclosed spaces while city services are being performed,” he said.
Thirty among those who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week of March.
“In addition to vaccination, mask-wearing is encouraged in crowded and enclosed spaces or gatherings to mitigate transmission, not only of COVID-19 but also of other respiratory illnesses,” a DOH-6 advisory said.
He suggested other people isolate themselves and go to the nearest center for proper medical care if they have symptoms.
DOH-6 reminded the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19. He noted that other parts of the country have also reported spikes in cases, especially among unvaccinated people.
Booster shots “offer long-term coverage against the virus and its complications,” Dr. Nataray said.
Vaccination sites have been established in rural physical fitness sets (RHUs) for less difficult eligible beneficiaries, he added.
While the policy of other fully vaccinated people (those who finished their first and last COVID-19 vaccine) in Region 6 is high, the number of others who got boosters (both the first and last) remains low.
In March 2023, the remaining fully vaccinated people in Region 6 were 94. 33%.
Those who won the first memory accounted for 17. 53%. The recipients of the memory of the moment were even lower, with 1. 92%.
Natalaray admitted that the average seven-day vaccination in the region dropped to just three hundred to 400 shots this year, up from more than 1,000 doses administered in 2022 Rappler. com.