The government has ordered public hospitals in COVID-19 hotspots Metro Manila and Calabarzon to increase their bed allotment for coronavirus patients, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Friday, July 31.

Roque said the government also urged private hospitals in these areas to do the same.

“Government hospitals in the National Capital Region and Region IV-A are directed to increase their hospital beds dedicated to COVID-19 up to 50% while private hospitals are enjoined to increase their hospital beds dedicated to COVID-19 up to 30%,” Roque said in a taped speech aired Friday morning.

Government hospitals currently have a 30% bed allotment for coronavirus patients, while private hospitals have 20% bed allotment.

While Metro Manila has reached the “danger zone” in terms of bed capacity for coronavirus patients, Roque downplayed this, saying that it’s just due to the limited bed allotments.

“Ang totoo po, hindi naman po tayo nagkukulang, kaya nga lang po, ang mga gobyernong ospital nag-allot lang po ng 30% ng kanilang bed capacity para sa COVID (The truth is we don’t have a bed shortage, it’s just that government hospitals only allot 30% of their bed capacity for COVID [patients]),” said Roque.

He said Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega – National Task Force treatment czar – will monitor the compliance of hospitals in the two areas and to the One Hospital Command System in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.

The One Hospital Command System involves a stronger referral system to have public hospitals allocate up to 70% of their bed capacity to coronavirus patients.

On Thursday, July 30, the Philippines reported a record-high single day increase of 3,954 cases, bringing the total number to 89,374.

Metro Manila had 1,703 new cases on Thursday – the highest number among areas – followed by Cebu province at 958. – Rappler.com