CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The hospital utilization rate in Central Luzon remains low despite the rise in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the region.
Corazon Flores, Department of Health-Central Luzon (DOH-3) regional head , said on Thursday healthcare utilization for those Covid-19 patients admitted at hospitals and quarantine facilities is 19 percent which means a low-risk category.
Flores said the intensive care utilization rate is only 16 percent, which is way below the 30 percent warning level.
Despite the low healthcare utilization rate, she reminded the public not to be complacent and to follow the minimum public health standards.
“Dumarami ang new cases at active cases compared in the past week. Lahat ng provinces ay may mga kaso ng Covid-19. Kailangan na mag-ingat ang publiko. (The number of new and active cases is increasing compared to the past. All the provinces have new Covid-19 cases. There is a need for the public to take extra caution),” she said in a regional television interview.
In its report, the DOH-3 said the total number of active cases in the region is 2,107 of which 1,617 are new cases as of July 18.
Flores also urged the public to get vaccinated as there is enough supply of vaccines against Covid-19.
“I am encouraging the public to go to the health centers and vaccination sites especially the students for their protection against the dreaded disease,” she said.
So far, the total number of fully vaccinated individuals in the region is 8,540,373 which is 83.06 percent of the 10.25 million target population.
On the other hand, the total number of individuals who completed the first dose is 8,981,156, which is 87.42 percent of the target population.
Meanwhile, the number of individuals who received booster shots is 2,224,609 which is only 21.70 percent of the target population. (PNA)
