Pampanga, Bulacan ICU bed capacity hits critical level

MANILA, Philippines — Intensive care unit (ICU) beds allotted for COVID-19 patients in Bulacan and Pampanga are almost at full capacity, OCTA Research Group reported yesterday.

In its monitoring report, OCTA said ICU utilization in Bulacan was at 90 percent and 91 percent in Pampanga.

An increase in active COVID cases was recorded in Bulacan, particularly in Sta. Maria, San Jose del Monte City, Meycauayan and Bocaue.

“All these LGUs except San Jose del Monte were already at critical incidence level and ICU occupancy,” OCTA’s Central Luzon monitoring report read.

COVID cases in Bulacan increased by 18 percent while ICU occupancy was at 90 percent.

The Bulacan provincial health office said 482 new cases were recorded on Wednesday, bringing the active infections to 3,929.

OCTA said the number of cases in Pampanga slowed to less than 20 percent, but ICU occupancy remains at critical level in San Fernando and Mabalacat at 99 percent and 86 percent, respectively.

New cases in the province rose by 13 percent from 482 to 544.

Bataan, which remains under modified enhanced community quarantine, continues to be at critical risk for COVID-19, with cases spiking in Mariveles and Balanga.Hospital bed utilization in the two areas is at 80 percent.

New cases in Balanga rose by 43 percent from 28 to 40.

OCTA said Sta. Maria and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, San Fernando in Pampanga, Olongapo in Zambales, Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac City and Balanga in Bataan are considered areas of concern in Central Luzon.

It said Olongapo reported an increase in active cases. Both ICU and hospital bed occupancy were at critical level.

OCTA said there was also a sharp rise in infections in Cabanatuan, where ICU occupancy is at critical level.

Tarlac City is at near critical level in terms of hospital bed and ICU occupancy.

On the new cases recorded on Wednesday, Metro Manila logged the highest with 3,621 followed by Cavite with 1,281; Laguna, 779; Cebu, 733, and Pampanga, 626.