Baguio amps up quarantine units
Baguio City will have 436 isolation beds by October to keep up with quarantine requirements of confirmed and suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
Baguio City Administrator Bonifacio de la Peña said the improvement of the city’s isolation unit at the former Sto. Niño Hospital is underway. From 90 beds, the capacity will be increased to 290.
The budget for the upgrade is part of the P12 million released by the Department of Public Works and Highways, with P8 million to be used for upgrading and P4 million for the procurement of medical equipment.
De la Peña explained that the increase in the isolation unit’s bed capacity will be on a weekly basis as per the agreed implementation of the project that will cover the facility’s three basements and three upper floors.
There will also be roofing, plumbing and electrical works, installation of lightings and purchase of beds and mattresses.
The city government is also awaiting the delivery of the container vans to be turned into a 16-bed facility adjacent to the city’s central triage at the Baguio Convention Center (BCC).
De la Peña said individuals who will test positive in the centralized triage center will be isolated in the adjacent unit to eliminate transport to other health facilities.
Baguio City Health officer Dr. Rowena Galpo, meanwhile, said the isolation unit at Teachers’ Camp has 90 beds aside from the potential use of another hall in the area with a projected 40-bed capacity to cater to the possible surge in cases among residents, returning stranded individuals and overseas workers.
She assured there will be enough personnel who will manage the central triage center and different isolation units as the Health department has provided additional workers, thus enabling 24-hour operations.
On Sunday, the central triage center previously based at the St. Vincent gymnasium along Naguilian Road will be transferred to a new facility within BCC premises. It will attend to individuals coming from essential trips.