DOH sees decline in hospital admissions, new Covid-19 cases

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) has observed a decline in hospital admissions that can be correlated to the decrease in the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases over the past week.

In a message to reporters, the DOH noted the intensive care unit (ICU) utilization rate nationwide is 30 percent as of February 22 which is lower than the 51 percent as of January 22.

To date, 29 percent of 3,800 ICU beds, 25 percent of 20,500 isolation beds, 18 percent of 13,900 ward beds, and 16 percent of 3,000 ventilators are used by patients with Covid-19 nationwide.

In the National Capital Region, 25 percent of 1,300 ICU beds, 24 percent of 4,600 isolation beds, 25 percent of 3,600 ward beds, and 17 percent of 1,000 ventilators dedicated to patients with Covid-19 are in use.

The delay in the submission of reports by few laboratories does not significantly affect the number of new cases reported daily, the DOH said.

“Currently, while antigen test results are not yet included in our topline numbers, LGUs are required to submit their line list which is then cleared and analyzed along with RT-PCR results received from laboratories,” it added.

DOH Department Memorandum No. 2022-0033 mandates the reporting of results of self-administered antigen test consistent with the relevant provisions of Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, and Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and Section V.H. of Administrative Order No. 2021-0043.

As for the latest genome sequencing reports, the DOH said the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) remains the most common lineage in the country comprising 34.80 percent of the total samples sequenced so far. The Omicron variant comes second at 19.6 percent.

The DOH clarified the result of the whole genome sequencing is not a measure to declare that the Omicron variant is already endemic in the country.

“We have metrics to follow to declare a disease as endemic. Corollary, measles has become endemic as the government realized its aim to lower case numbers rather than implausibly eliminating a disease that is constantly present through a stage of disease control approach,” it said. (PNA)