CH exec: We should be happy quarantine center still unused

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Legal Officer Rey Gealon has clarified that the city's Quarantine Center is open and ready to admit patients per recommendation of nurses and doctors.

Gealon said the facility at Block 27, North Reclamation Area is a level two facility where coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with mild to moderate symptoms may be admitted.

He made the clarification following reports stating that the facility remains unused a month after it was inaugurated on April 25.

"Malipay gani ta kay pasabot niana wala pa ma-overwhelm ang level two nga facility. Pasabot nga kining mga pasyente nga angay mosud diha, katong dunay mild to moderate symptoms, wa pa moabot ana nga gidaghanon nga ato nang ipansak diha sa atong quarantine facility," said Gealon.

Aside from the mentioned facility, the city has two other quarantine centers, namely Bayanihan Cebu Field Center (BCFC) at the Sacred Heart School and quarantine facility at the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) Convention Center.

Gealon said there are 24 patients confined in BCFC which has a 48-bed capacity while there is no admission yet in the IEC quarantine facility which has a 100-bed capacity.

He also mentioned that the city's quarantine center already is fully equipped with personnel.

Cebu City Medical Center personnel, who have undergone training, are stationed at the facility.

"Tua sila didto on standby sa quarantine facility," said Gealon.

When the time comes that the BCFC can no longer accommodate patients, Gealon said the city's Quarantine Center will be next in line.

Gealon explained that the city is following the DOH memorandum 2020-0123.

As per the memorandum, there are three levels of facilities to be prepared for COVID-19 patients.

The level-one facility is the barangay isolation center (BIC) wherein asymptomatic patients will be placed. 95 percent of the patients in the city are asymptomatic.

The level-two facility is the quarantine center for patients with mild to moderate symptoms and level-three facility is the hospital for the seriously or severely infected patients. JMD (FREEMAN)