An 11.6-hectare and 300-bed capacity temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF) was opened in Subic, Zambales today, April 14 to augment the capacity of facilities caring for mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.
National Task Force Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon said the establishment of more facilities is in preparation for a possible case surge.
“There’s a variant that’s coming in that’s totally transmissible, and no one predicted this, that the variant would hit us this much. And this is the reason why we had to make sure that… the treatment facility is there, and the isolation facilities are there,” Treatment czar and Health Undersecretary Dr. Leopoldo Vega said.
The new facility is the former The Manila Times College of Subic, Inc. This will accommodate COVID-19-positive patients from the National Capital Region (NCR), Region 3, and Region 4.
Authorities are also planning to establish a hospital inside the complex with a capacity of 100 beds for moderate to severe COVID-19 patients.
A total of 44 healthcare workers and several police personnel have been deployed there.
“We’re looking into putting in more isolation facilities and more treatment facilities. Kasi very important ‘yan, kailangan meron talagang mapuntahan ang mga pasyente, whether they’re mild, asymptomatic, or severe [It’s important that patients have a place to go, whether they are mild, asymptomatic, or severe],” Vega said.
Meanwhile, Dizon said the Department of Tourism (DOT) has approved the establishment by the Manila government of a COVID-19 mega-hospital for moderate and severe cases in Luneta.
Around 11 to 17 higher educational institutions also offered their facilities for use as quarantine sites. – Report from Louisa Erispe/AG-jlo
