Maritime vessels, hotels eyed as COVID-19 quarantine centers

MANILA, Philippines — The government is now identifying maritime vessels and hotels that may be transformed as quarantine facilities for coronavirus disease 2019  (COVID-19) patients.

The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Monday said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) are already in the process of identifying these ships and hotels.

“The DOTr shall lead the identification of maritime vessels that can serve as floating quarantine centers, in coordination with the DOH [Department of Health],” Nograles said in a press briefing.

“The Department of Tourism (DOT) shall finalize the identification of hotels and other similar establishments as quarantine facilities in every region of the country,” he added.

Nograles said the Bureau of Quarantine will assess the adequacy of facilities identified by the DOT.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier said the agency has contacted ship owners and operators for the use of their passenger vessels as “floating quarantine hospitals.”

The directive was made following the continuous spike of COVID-19 cases in the country, which is so far at 1,546.

Of the number, 78 persons have already died while 42 have recovered.

GSG