DPWH converts MLQU to 60-bed quarantine facility
A university in Quiapo, Manila has been converted into an isolation facility to accommodate 60 patients infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced Friday.
The Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) in Quiapo, Manila was successfully converted into a 60-bed quarantine facility in the span of two weeks, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said.
Villar, who also serves as the isolation czar in the country’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic, added that the newly completed MLQU facility “was rushed to add 60 more bed units that will cater to the city’s COVID19 cases.”
“With the online learning system in place this school year, available school buildings are being tapped as converting existing buildings is one of the fastest options to add more COVID-19 facilities,” Villar said.
According to DPWH National Capital Region Director Ador Canlas, the completed MLQU Isolation Facility also has one radiology room, two nurse stations, and four comfort rooms – two for medical personnel and two for patients’ use.
Villar furthered that the department is “continuously building and converting structures to ensure demands are met for healthcare facilities to contain areas with COVID-19 spikes.”
Last week, the secretary said 10,000 more quarantine facilities are expected to be constructed around the Philippines by the end of the year.
The department aims to bring to 20,000 the quarantine facilities completed for coronavirus disease cases in the country this year.
“To date, almost 10,000 quarantine facilities have been constructed across the country. We’re not done yet, we continue to build facilities. We hope to hit more than 20,000 quarantine facilities across the country,” he said.
The isolation czar also said that among the 20,000 quarantine facilities targeted this year, are critical care facilities in hospitals to augment existing capacities of hospitals in handling critical cases of coronavirus disease.