Despite COVID-19 bed utilization at ‘moderate risk’ LEVEL: Central Visayas at critical risk

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Health (DOH) has elevated Central Visayas’ status to critical risk in case classification even as COVID bed utilization in the region remains at moderate risk level.

Central Visayas is one of the 13 regions in the country placed under critical risk level, the others being Region 5, CAR, 6, 11, 2, 10, 9, 1, Caraga, 8, 4A, 3, and 12.

In a report presented by Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Central Visayas has a total active cases of 15,642, slightly higher than DOH-7’s own number on January 24 at 15,611 that included 695 new cases.

Majority of the active cases in the region are from Cebu Island. Bohol and Negros Oriental, though, still have less than a thousand active cases while Siquijor has less than 20.

As of January 25, Cebu City has 6,968 active cases; Cebu Province has 3,934; Lapu-Lapu has 1,474; and Mandaue has 1,378.

Bohol has 947 active cases, Negros Oriental has 894, and Siquijor has 16. Negros Oriental and Siquijor did not register new cases based on the January 24 DOH data.

Growth rate

According to Duque, Central Visayas’ moving two-week growth rate of cases remains very high.

From 541 percent covering December 14 to 27 versus December 28 to January 10, the region’s growth rate increased to 1,505 percent from December 28 to January 10 versus January 11 to 24.

The region’s average daily attack rate for every 100,000 people also increased to 15.71 covering January 11 to 24, 2022 from 0.98 last December 28, 2021 to January 10, 2022.

 Although case classification is at a critical level, the region’s health system capacity remains very manageable.

Bed utilization is still at moderate risk at 62.52 percent based on DOH data on January 23. Utilization of mechanical ventilators and UCI is also at low risk at 29 percent for mechanical ventilator and 41.61 percent in ICU utilization.

As case trends in the Visayas and Mindanao show increases, Duque reminded regional implementers and local government units to assess and monitor closely hospitals with high to critical utilization rates to ensure prompt response.

Hospitals are also expected to expand their COVID bed capacity. They are encouraged to transfer mild and asymptomatic cases to step-down facilities.

LGUs are also expected to have a functional Emergency Operations Center and triage areas to ensure that cases are assessed, referred appropriately, and monitored as home care services among mild and asymptomatic cases have to be strengthened.

Regions with high number of cases are also told to ramp up primary series and booster vaccination activities, especially for seniors and those with comorbidities.

Cebu City situation

Meanwhile, Cebu City’s total and new cases have shown significant decrease but its positivity rate remains higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold.

From 7,370 active cases on January 23, the number went down to 6,973 with only 302 additional cases noted on January 24. The city also logged 442 new recoveries.

The city’s positivity rate, while experiencing a decline to 40.60 percent from above 50 percent, remains way higher than the WHO threshold of 5 percent.

“Yes, there is a decrease in the number of fresh cases for the last four days but it’s too early to tell on the basis of the TWGR or two-week growth rate. Besides, there are lots of labs (laboratories) that are not able to pass (records) on time,” said Councilor Joel Garganera, head of the city’s EOC.

More recoveries are noted than fresh cases in its latest monitoring but Garganera said it is difficult to know when the current surge will end.

“We are like in a rollercoaster ride. It's a series of ups and downs and we never know when this is gonna end,” he said.

Garganera also said Cebuanos should remain vigilant and look at the Average Daily Attack Rate (ADAR).

“There’s nothing really to feel complacent nor happy about because if we look at the Average Daily Attack Rate (ADAR), ideally, it should be between 1-7 per 100,000 population. Today, with 302 fresh cases, we have 30 cases per 100,000,” Garganera said.

The City’s healthcare utilization rate is also above 50 percent.

“So we really need to synchronize all our efforts to slow down transmission. Besides, we abide by what the mayor said, ‘It aint over until it’s over,’ so we really have to be more serious in our intervention and enforcement of the DOH protocol and the mayor’s directive,” he said further.- JMO (FREEMAN)