Press Release | 03 December 2020
The Department of Health reported an additional 235 COVID-19 beds have been allocated in Cagayan, CALABARZON, Davao, and the National Capital Region (NCR) in an effort to further augment the Health System Capacity for COVID-19 response in regions with the highest number of cases in the country.
As NCR has been at the top of the COVID-19 case count among other regions in the country, eighty (80) additional beds were dedicated in public hospitals, while sixty-five (65) beds were pledged to private hospitals to cater to COVID-19 patients. In total, the NCR now has over 6,700 COVID-19 dedicated beds. Moreover, the remaining ninety (90) hospital beds have been allocated in hospitals in Cagayan, CALABARZON, and Davao bringing the total combined COVID-dedicated beds in these regions to 3,791.
"As the holiday season poses a potential increase in cases, we will not let our guards down. We are unequivocally prepared for any circumstances that this Yuletide season may bring. We have also increased our COVID-19 beds capacity in different regions with high-risk classifications to prevent saturation in our hospitals," Department of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque explained.
As of November 30, the country has a total of 21,947 beds dedicated for COVID-19 care, which is 20% of the total licensed hospital beds in the country with public hospitals allotting 29% of its total beds, and private hospitals dedicating an average of 13%. Based on the latest report, the country’s overall COVID bed utilization remains at a low risk (34%) and is on a continued downward trend.
"Patuloy po nating pinalalakas ang ating health system capacity at nakikita po natin na nagbubunga ang ating mga inisyatiba, ngunit alam din natin na itong mga numero ay maaaring magbago anytime. Kahit na bumababa ang ating utilization, hindi po ito irreversible. Kaya hindi po tayo tumitigil, lalong-lalo na ngayong kapaskuhan at bagong taon, sa pagpapalakas po ng ating tugon sa pandemyang COVID-19 at pagpapaunlad ng ating kapasidad pangkalusugan," Sec. Duque assured.