Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31) — The government is planning to designate several locations that could house persons under investigation and under monitoring for possible infection of the coronavirus disease, a top official said Tuesday.
Carlito Galvez, Jr., Presidential Peace Adviser and chief implementer of the national plan against COVID-19, said they are looking at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila, the World Trade Center, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, and the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay, the Philippine Arena in Bulacan and the Philippine Sports Complex in Pasig as “forced quarantine areas.”
He said this is to prepare for succeeding surges in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, which as of Tuesday, had breached the 2,000 mark.
“The conversion of the Rizal Coliseum and the World Trade Center will be completed soon,” said Galvez in a statement.
He added that the Health department, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces will oversee the PUIs in these areas. The Armed Forces can also provide 1,500 beds, Galvez said.
Galvez also mentioned that 4,000 hotel rooms will be made available for returning overseas Filipino workers.
The Quezon City government also implemented a similar measure. City officials prepared a temporary facility called “Hope II” for PUIs. This is located in the Quezon City University Complex in Novaliches.
The quarantine facility has a 168-bed capacity for PUIs who are unable to undergo self-quarantine in their homes. Metro Manila’s biggest city currently has a total of 140 COVID-19 cases, 26 deaths, and 10 recoveries.
The Department of Health earlier ordered to send home persons under investigation and COVID-19-positive patients with mild symptoms as more hospitals reach capacity.
