To address the high number of COVID-19 cases and the full capacity of hospitals, the Quezon City government has started identifying existing buildings that can be transformed into isolation facilities.
Mayor Joy Belmonte said local government infrastructure, public school buildings, and even dormitories are currently being considered, evaluated, and retrofitted into isolation or quarantine facilities to help reduce the coronavirus transmission in communities, as well as decongest emergency rooms and other hospital facilities.
“This is the fastest way to decongest our hospitals while also mitigating further spread in the barangays. Since asymptomatic or those with mild symptoms do not need extensive medical care, they can be admitted in these facilities until their full recovery,” she said.
Medical workers would also be assigned to closely monitor the patients.
The City Architect’s Office, Office of the Secretary to the Mayor and City Health Department are continuously evaluating possible isolation sites to complete the target of 1,000 new beds. Other buildings would also be used as quarters of health-care workers.
According to Belmonte, three buildings at the Quezon City University shall be reopened as isolation and quarantine facilities.
In partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, Philippine Medical Association and Department of Public Works and Highways, the city government would transform the Kamia Residence Hall at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus to a 282-bed facility to cater to COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms.
The mayor said they have partnered with Ateneo de Manila University and Philippine Red Cross in providing additional quarantine facilities in Ateneo’s Junior High School complex.
Only city government-referred patients would be allowed in this facility.
“We are grateful for the proactive participation of private organizations like Ateneo in our COVID-19 response. Through their facility, we will be able to accommodate more patients of COVID-19,” Belmonte said.
