Manila’s COVID-19 Field Hospital will be finished by June 11, Friday, or ten days ahead of the self-imposed, 60-day deadline earlier announced by Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.
The local chief executive said that the city’s seventh hospital may be operational in time for the celebration of the city’s 450th founding anniversary on June 24.
The seventh hospital was built on a 2.6-hectare lot at the Burnham Green area of Luneta Park, right across the Quirino Grandstand and near the site of the city government’s free drive-thru swabbing center.
It has 344 beds and has all the needed equipment and facilities required by COVID patients including oxygen tanks, ambulances and medical frontliners, in consideration of the fact that those with moderate symptoms still face the possibility of being elevated to severe cases.
The 24/7 construction began on April 20, utilizing hundreds of workers to ensure completion ahead of the city’s big event.
“This seventh hospital of ours will be our gift to the people of Manila. Our special thanks to City Engineer Armand Andres and the workers who expeditiously constructed the hospital round-the-clock,” Domagoso said. He also cited the efforts of City Architect Pepito Balmoris and City Electrician Randy Sadac.
Domagoso said that the operations will begin pending the filling up of staff needed and dry-run operations.
Domagoso ordered the construction of the COVID Field Hospital in view of the anticipated surge in coronavirus cases in the coming months and in an effort to declog the six city-run hospitals of COVID cases so they could focus on those who are under critical or severe condition and other illnesses as well. Willie Casas
The two-month self-imposed deadline is on June 20.
Domagoso said that the field hospital will serve COVID-19 patients classified as mild and moderate cases, while those who are asymptomatic will be brought to the quarantine facilities to isolate them from their housemates and avoid transmission within the families.
Domagoso said the COVID hospital is the result of a brainstorming which he did with his doctor-Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and health experts.