Cebu City’s critical care capacity is now in the “warning zone” as cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue to rise.

“Their critical care utilization rate is in the warning zone already. This is why they were placed under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ),” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.

“We have to make sure that their healthcare system will not be overwhelmed. This is why the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases decided to implement an ECQ in Cebu City,” she added.

Vergeire said 58 percent of the hospital beds and 56 percent of the intensive care unit beds are occupied; while 37 percent of their mechanical ventilators are being used.

“They are not yet at the critical level because critical level is at 70 percent and up. But they are in the warning zone already,” said Vergeire.

 President Rodrigo Duterte placed Cebu City under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from June 16 to June 30 after being under  general community quarantine (GCQ).

Duterte Monday night assigned Environment Secretay Roy Cimatu to oversee the situation amid the increasing number of coronavirus disease in the province, particularly Cebu City.

The DOH COVID-19 Case Tracker says Cebu City has the most number of cases with 3,987 nationwide.

Over the last 14 days, Cebu City had the most number of cases reported with 1,147. DMS