Metro mayors urged to endorse mild, asymptomatic COVID patients to Oplan Kalinga hotels

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) Monday to endorse their mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients to the Oplan Kalinga hotels and other similar quarantine institutions in case their facilities are filled up.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año stressed that “there are 4,000 beds now available due to the increase in discharges or recoveries in the past weeks.’’

In compliance with IATF Resolution No. 74, Año explained that all confirmed mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients are required to be isolated in government-approved facilities.

As also stated in the IATF resolution, confirmed mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients that are vulnerable or with comorbidities can undergo home isolation that should meet the requirements under Annex F of the Joint Administrative Order No. 2020-0001 issued by the Department of Health (DOH) and the DILG.

However, Año noted that those who are vulnerable or have comorbidities as certified by a local health officer are exempted from this provision.

Also exempted in this rule are confirmed mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in areas where the government-recognized isolation centers are in full capacity.

“We urge all Metro Manila LGUs to endorse patients who they can no longer accommodate in their local isolation facilities to endorse them to the Mega TTMFs and Oplan Kalinga hotels which now have some 4,000 beds available because many have already been discharged,” Año said.

“Meron tayong mga Mega Quarantine Facilities and 31 COVID hotels na kung saan puwede sila mag-isolate. Importante kasi talaga na mailabas sila sa bahay kasi nakahahawa sa pamilya (We have several Mega Quarantine Facilities and 31 COVID hotels where they can be isolated. It is really important to get them out of their houses since they can infect the family),” he added.

The DILG said that the LGUs can coordinate directly with the One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) located at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) headquarters in Makati City which was created to facilitate a comprehensive and coordinated response to the pandemic by ensuring an efficient health facility referral in Metro Manila.