Davao City prepares 5 PUI centers

THE Davao City government is preparing five quarantine centers for persons under investigation (PUIs) of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infection.

The PUI centers identified are the Malagos Rehab Center, La Vida Inn in Maa, Alternative Learning School beside People’s Park, a Bureau of Fire Protection office near the Malagos Rehab Center and the Queensland Hotel, which will reserve 240 rooms. Private firm Emcor Inc. also offered to convert container vans for PUIs.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the PUI centers would help ease up the number of patients at the Southern Philippines Medical Center.

The mayor stressed that Davao City residents who exhibit mild symptoms should go to the PUI centers for isolation. She also gave assurances that the PUI centers would be equipped with medicine and facilities. Medical staff trained for infectious diseases will also be present.

Duterte said in a meeting with Task Force Covid-19, the Department of Health agreed that PUIs exhibiting mild symptoms such as cough and colds should not be admitted to hospitals in order to limit their exposure. This setup would allow those with severe symptoms to be accommodated at hospital facilities.

“Dunay mga PUIs who insist on staying dinha sa mga hospitals. I think as a PUI and dili pa naman ka sigurado na Covid-19-positive ka, pero you exhibit symptoms, mas better off ka diri sa atoang mga centers because wala ka sa sulod sa hospitals nga duna nay positive (There are PUIs who insist on staying in hospitals. I think, as a PUI, if you are not sure that you are positive of Covid-19 but you exhibit symptoms, you are better off in the PUI centers than in the hospitals, which have patients with positive cases),” the mayor explained.