Gov’t putting up more isolation facilities to house mild, asymptomatic COVID patients to free up hospitals

Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega. PRESIDENTIAL FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Due to the surge of COVID-19 cases, the government is putting up more isolation centers and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMF) to house mild and asymptomatic cases.

Treatment czar Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said on Tuesday the centers will help ease hospital capacity since they will be focusing on moderate and severe cases.

About 97% of the new cases are mild and asymptomatic, he added.

“Kailangan madagdagan ang mga isolation centers at saka TTMF para mailagay ang mga mild at asymptomatic kasi sila ‘yung first line of defense bago magpunta sa hospital,” he said in a Laging Handa briefing.

(There is a need to increase the number of isolation centers and TTMF to accommodate mild and asymptomatic patients because these facilities are the first line of defense prior to the hospitals.)

“Kasi sa hospital magko-concentrate na ‘yung mga institution sa mga moderate at severe [cases],” Vega added.

(Because the institution will concentrate on the hospitals to address moderate and severe cases.)

The health care utilization rate across the country is already at “moderate risk” category, meaning COVID-19 beds wards and isolation beds in hospitals are already about 60% filled.

Meanwhile, intensive care unit (ICU) beds are about 73% to 76% occupied.

Vega said the currently available isolation centers and TTMF are already 78% occupied so the government is augmenting the capacity.

JPV