Marikina wants own hospital dedicated to COVID-19 patients

MANILA, Philippines —  Marikina government is seeking to establish a hospital dedicated to treating coronavirus disease patients to protect non-COVID-19 patients.

“We are trying at the local level… na naghahanap tayo na mauupahan na isang ospital na exclusive for COVID-19 patient para ma-avoid yung contamination,” Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said on Friday during a press conference at BIDA ang may Disiplina: Solusyon sa COVID-19 campaign launch.

(We are trying at the local level, we are looking into renting a hospital exclusively for COVID-19 patients to avoid contamination.)

Previously, National Task Force COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez recommended that four hospitals in Metro Manila must be dedicated to COVID-19 treatment. He said it would also protect non-COVID-19 patients.

In Marikina, there is an average of 800 tests being conducted per day but Teodoro said the challenge is finding hospitals dedicated for the patients.

“The challenge is after testing is treatment… more important is treatment, to provide medical support, treatment. Nandun yung challenge where to find a hospital for COVID patients,” he said.

Teodoro said the Department of Health is already constructing isolation rooms at the Annex of the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center for COVID-19 patients in Marikina City.

The local government is also looking into converting schools into quarantine centers for COVID-19 patients, Teodoro said.

Marikina already has its own molecular diagnostic laboratory which started operations last April 30.

Marikina logged 1,039 total cases of COVID-19 with 49 deaths and 488 recoveries, as of Aug. 13. [ac]