MANILA, Philippines — Amid the soaring coronavirus cases in the country, the De La Salle College of St. Benilde (DLS-CSB) has agreed to turn their unused classrooms into an isolation facility that will serve asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 patients in Manila.
The initiative was in line with a memorandum of agreement that it signed with the Philippine Red Cross and the City of Manila to turn the campus’ unused classrooms into a 135-bed facility to help in the fight against coronavirus, to be managed by the PRC.
Senator Richard Gordon, concurrent Chairman and CEO of PRC, said that the organization’s goal is to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in multi-generation households.
PRC equipped the unused classrooms with beds to turn them into isolation rooms. Photos from PRC.
“Sa mga multi-generation households, madalas ang nag-uuwi ng COVID, ‘yung mga nagtatrabaho sa labas at mahahawaan nila ang mga kasama nila sa bahay, lalo na ang mga magulang nila o iba pang kasama nilang matatanda at sila ang namamatay,” said Gordon in a statement.
(In multi-generation households, the coronavirus is often brought home by those who work outside, infecting their parents or other elderly companions, who are the ones most fatally at risk.)
“Kaya dapat maalis agad sila sa bahay para hindi sila makahawa,” he added.
(So they should be removed from the house immediately so that they won’t infect others.)
The PRC equipped the isolation room with beds, bed covers, pillows, and stand fans.
It also prepared a treatment area with an ambulance on standby.
In addition, the PRC will provide each patient with a quarantine kit that contains essential items good for seven to 14 days of isolation.
The personal protective equipment of the staff caring for these patients will similarly be issued by PRC.
According to Gordon, the establishment of isolation centers is the result of an agreement between the senator and several Metro Manila mayors to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus amidst the surge that the country is experiencing.
“Dalawa talaga ang pakay natin dito: i-isolate natin ang mga COVID-19 positive individuals para hindi sila makahawa sa kanilang mga tahanan at komunidad, at mabibigyan ng tulong at suporta ang pamilyang iiwan muna nila,” said Gordon.
(We really have two goals here: to isolate COVID-19 positive individuals so that they do not infect their homes and communities, and to provide help and support to the family they leave behind.)
“Dapat maramdaman natin na iisang bansa tayong gumagalaw para sa lahat,” he added.
(We must feel that we are a united country, moving for all.)
On April 8, the PRC also partnered with Ateneo de Manila to turn its high school into an isolation ward, the Hope 8 Isolation Facility, which is currently monitoring 45 patients.
It added that in the coming weeks, more similar facilities will be set up in Manila, such as in the University of the Philippines and Adamson University.
As of writing, the country currently has 962,307 total COVID-19 cases, with 116,434 active cases, 829,608 recoveries and a death toll at 16,265.
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