Gov’t to convert sports facilities, schools, churches into COVID-19 quarantine sites

MANILA, Philippines — As hospitals and healthcare facilities struggle to accommodate more persons under monitoring and investigation (PUIs and PUMs) for the coronavirus disease 2019 COVID-19, the government has decided to convert sports facilities, schools and even churches into makeshift quarantine sites.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the proposals to turn military hospitals, sports facilities and other state-owned buildings such as the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Philippine Sports Complex and Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to COVID-19 isolation sites.

Duque also said that he intends to talk to Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo to discuss the possibility of turning churches into health care facilities as well.

“Nakapagpasya na po ang IATF na gamitin po itong mga ito bilang alternative temporary quarantine facilities or isolation facilities. Kinukumpleto na po natin ang imbentaryo kasama na din po diyan ang mga eskwelahan,” Duque said Monday in an interview on dzMM.

“Kakausapin ko din po si Bishop Pabillo dahil may mga nagmungkahi din pati mga simbahan gamitin din. Mabuti na yung handa tayo in case na talagang lumobo pa ito,” he added.

The Health department on Sunday reported 343 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country’s total to 1,418.

It said three more patients had died, raising the death toll to 71. It also reported seven recoveries, bringing the total to 42.

The entire island of Luzon has been placed on a month-long enhanced community quarantine in a bid to prevent the further spread of the contagion, forcing about half of the country’s population to stay indoors.

The spread respiratory disease, which was considered by the World Health Organization as a pandemic, has infected over 700,000 worldwide, nearly 34,000 of whom have died.

GSG