The Quezon City government has identified a second site for temporary quarantine facility for persons under investigation (PUIs) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019).
Mayor Joy Belmonte said the second quarantine facility called Hope-II would be housed at the Quezon City University Complex in Novaliches starting today.
“The quarantine facility has a 168-bed capacity for PUIs who are unable to undergo self-quarantine in their respective homes,” she said.
She said she was now working for the establishment of more quarantine facilities to help limit and control the spread of the disease in different communities.
Earlier, she raised alarm over the Department of Health’s protocol mandating hospitals to send home PUIs and positive COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms for strict self-isolation and close monitoring.
“We cannot effectively control the spread of the virus if we send home PUIs and positive COVID-19 patients without the means to self-quarantine,” the city mayor said.
The city government assured the patients admitted to HOPE-II that they would be provided with meals, an isolated space, personal hygiene kits, proper medication and attention by medical health professionals under the 14-day quarantine.
The use of Hope-II would help limit the exposure of medical workers, the other health staff and community members to COVID-19, the city mayor said.
“This would also help maximize the availability of hospital beds for patients who are in dire need of hospitalization,” she added.
On March, the city government established Hope-1, a 49-room alternative medical facility, designed to isolate and monitor identified PUIs and COVID-19 patients.
In Manila
The Manila City government on Monday imposed a temporary liquor ban amid the Luzon lockdown.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso had signed an executive order prohibiting and selling any alcoholic beverages starting March 30.
Domagoso urged Manila residents to follow the guidelines imposed by the government amid the present public health emergency, adding he was dismayed over some Manila residents who were not following the government’s rules banning mass gatherings due to the mandatory quarantine.
Bulacan state of calamity
The provincial government has placed Bulacan under a state of calamity due to the COVID-19 threat.
According to a press statement, Governor Daniel Fernando signed the resolution last March 19 declaring a state of calamity after Luzon, the country’s main island, was placed under an enhanced community quarantine last March 17.
With the declaration, livelihood assistance through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office will be given to indigenous people, with hoarding and overpricing strictly prohibited.
Benguet scenario
During the implementation of ECQ in La Trinidad, Benguet, from 12:01AM of March 30 to 12:00 midnight of March 31 (Monday to Tuesday):
-All establishments will be closed except sari-sari stores in barangays which may open from 9AM to 1PM only
-All checkpoints will be closed to vehicles except for the national highway’s stretch of road from Shilan, Tomayto KM 3 la Trinidad
-All roads including barangay and provincial, will be closed along with the alternate routes
-Travel passes will not be issued
Angeles City hospital
A private hospital in Angeles City, Pampanga has claimed it cannot reject suspected COVID-19 patients from other areas after the local political leadership ordered its closure for supposedly accepting a virus-infected patient without the city government’s knowledge.
The Philippine Rehabilitation Institute Medical Center, in a statement, said four patients from Quezon City arrived at its emergency room on Thursday afternoon via a private vehicle.
“While we understand the good mayor’s plight and desire to only accept patients residing within Pampanga, we cannot do so as it goes against the directive of the [Department of Health] and Philhealth,” it said.
“More importantly, it is also against the Hippocratic Oath which is the Universal Code of Ethics of physicians in treating the sick, regardless of race, religion and ethnicity.”
In Caloocan City
Caloocan City councilor Enteng Malapitan on Monday confirmed he has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In a Facebook post, Enteng, the son of Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan, said he and his family were currently under quarantine and were in stable condition, adding his father and brother, councillor Along, were in good health.
He still asked those who have been in contact with him since March 15 to undergo self-quarantine as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the virus.
Caloocan has 22 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including seven deaths and four recoveries, as of March 29.
3rd COVID in Nueva Vizcaya
Dr. Edwin Galapon, Provincial Health Officer(PHO) has confirmed Monday the 3rd COVID-19 case for the province.
He described the third victim as a 5-year old female from Alfonso Castaneda town who sought medical treatment at the Premiere General Hospital(PGH) in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.
“This brings the total number of Positive Cases into 3 for our province and we are reiterating our call to all Novo Vizcayanos to maintain their stay in their homes to avoid being infected by the COVID-19 disease,” Galapon said. With Willie Casas, Dave Leprozo, and Ben Moses Ebreo