COVID-19 patients, staff of flood-prone NCR treatment facilities moved to hotels

(Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said that over 200 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and staff members of temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs) in flood-prone areas have been transferred to various hotels as Typhoon Ulysses batters parts of Luzon.

In its situation report, the DOH said that with the help of the COVID-19 Oplan Kalinga Team, patients and staff from the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Philippine Arena in Bulacan  and Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)  were transferred to hotels: 

• 36 patients and 26 staff of the Ninoy Aquino Stadium TTMF transferred to Nice Hotel Mandaluyong
• 41 patients and 26 staff of Rizal Memorial Stadium TTMFt transferred to Nice Hotel Arayat
• 41 patients and 15 staff from Philippine Arena TTMF transferred to Nice Hotel McArthur
• 28 patients and 32 staff from PICC TTMF transferred to Nice Hotel North Edsa 

The DOH added that Centers for Health Development (CHD) located in areas included in Ulysses’ path have pre-positioned medicines, medical supplies, health kits and other COVID-19 supplies worth P26 million. 

The health emergency response teams are also on alert for deployment, the DOH said. 

Based on Pagasa’s latest weather bulletin, Ulysses was last spotted at 85 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph, while moving at 25 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 was hoisted over west of Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, and Pampanga, Pagasa said.

Meanwhile, other parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, were placed under TCWS No. 2. 

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