SC sets up emergency facility for court employees with COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has set up an emergency care unit (ECU) in its compound on Padre Faura Street in Manila for court employees who might contract COVID-19.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo has approved the use of the SC Gymnasium to serve as an isolation and quarantine facility for Supreme Court employees and those from third level courts like the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan, and the Court of Tax Appeals, according to a statement issued on Monday.

The initiative, which was done with the help of the Philippine Red Cross and the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, is expected to somewhat ease the high occupation rate at other public isolation areas.

The ECU will be managed by the Office of the Administrative Services, led by Maria Carina M. Cunanan, who is the deputy clerk of court and chief administrative officer, in coordination with the SC Medical and Dental Services.

Patients will be admitted on a first-come-first-served basis as there are only 55 beds available on the fifth floor of the Supreme Court – Court of Appeals building.

“Accommodations will be limited only to asymptomatic patients or those with mild or moderate symptoms who are awaiting transfer to quarantine facilities or hospital confinement due to room or bed unavailability,” the SC said.

“The Court took into consideration that most of hospitals in Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces have reached full COVID-19 capacity and are unable to admit any more COVID-19 positive patients,” it noted.

The Philippines had a surge in COVID-19 cases in March, forcing the government to enforce stricter lockdown measures in Metro Manila and the adjacent provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal. However, the country has seen fewer active cases as a lot of patients were said to be recovering from the disease.

As of Monday, the number of active COVID-19 cases nationwide stood at 59,897 after more than 8,000 recoveries were tallied.

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