The government will build additional isolation facilities in response to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country and as it fills hospitals.
“There are now plans to build mobile tents, ICU (intensive care unit) facilities of up to 200 beds,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Monday.
“We’re doing what other countries did at the height of their own pandemics, we’re relying now on mobile hospitals,” he added.
According to Roque, the government has built a 110-bed capacity quarantine facility at the Quezon Institute in Quezon City, which will serve as an extension of the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.
He also said that Tala Hospital in Caloocan is set to increase its capacity by 160-bed.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), they will also add triage areas in local government units (LGUs), where those who are positive for COVID-19 can first consult so that hospitals are not overcrowded.
Most of those admitted today have mild symptoms or no symptoms.
Also read: Occupancy of ICUs in Metro Manila at critical level: OCTA
Government will build additional isolation facilities
“Kailangan may mag-a-assess muna sa mga local government… Sasabihin kung para sa ospital ba ang kaso o dito namin kayo ilalagay sa quarantine facilities,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
In the last update by isolation czar Mark Villar to congressmen last week, the occupancy rate of isolation facilities in Metro Manila is 61.8 percent and 15 percent nationwide.
The Philippine Red Cross will also assist the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and mayors in the National Capital Region to build additional isolation facilities in selected public and private schools.
The Red Cross will place doctors, nurses, and an ambulance there to pick up patients from their homes to the facility to be built.
After the meeting on Friday, up to 6 LGUs will get help from the Red Cross.
MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos also appealed that in case the housemates test positive for COVID-19 and are exposed, instead of going straight to the hospital, it is better to take the initiative and contact the barangay health workers to determine what to do next.