More units for Covid may reduce restrictions

THE successful expansion of medical facilities for Covid-19 patients in the National Capital Region (NCR) and its surrounding areas this month could lead to the lowering of quarantine restrictions in these areas, officials said on Thursday.

In an online pres briefing on Thursday, the National Task Force Against covid-19 (NTF) reported hospitals in the NCR Plus—metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan, and Rizal— have committed to put up an additional 176 intensive care units (ICU) for Covid-19 patients.

If successfully implemented, this will bring the total ICU beds for Covid-19 patients in NCR plus to 876, according to Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer and testing czar Vivencio “Vince” Dizon.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque welcomed the initiative, which could lower the current utilization rate of ICU beds, now at 82 percent (high risk level), to just 70 percent (moderate risk level).

“This will probably justify a lower classification,” Roque said.

However, he noted there are two other factors to be considered by the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) before it considers the easing of classifications—the daily attack rate and 2-week average attack rate.

Dizon said the government’s technical experts will consolidate three factors before a final community classification for May is endorsed.

The government placed NCR Plus under ECQ on March 29, leading to the closure of some businesses, after the number of daily new Covid-19 cases breached the 10,000 mark. After two weeks, this was eased a bit to MECQ until April 30.

Since Monday, Department of Health (DOH) started registering new daily Covid-19 cases below 10,000.

“The 176 beds earlier mentioned by Secretary Dizon will be crucial to lower the quarantine classification and reopen the economy since we need to be prepared for those who get a critical sickness due to [Covid-19] and will need ICU beds,” Roque said.