THE government’s strategy to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is to “locate, isolate and cure” suspected patients, BCDA president and CEO Vince Dizon said Friday, April 17, as more facilities are being converted into “We Heal As One Centers”.
“Ang mga facilities ay kasama sa napakalaking sistema ng paglaban sa Covid-19. Isu-summarize itong sistema na ito sa tatlong salita—yung locate, isolate at cure. ‘Yung mga quarantine facilities ay kasama sa ikalawang parte ng sistema na pag-isolate (The facilities are part of the scheme to fight against the Covid-19. Three words to summarize this system -- locate, isolate, cure. Those quarantine facilities are included in the second part of the system, which is to isolate),” Dizon said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
“Ito yung sistema na kailangang paganahin ng tama dahil ito ang paraan para ma-control natin ang spread ng virus at maalagaan ng mabuti ang ating mga kababayan na magkakasakit (This part of the system should be executed properly because this is the way to control the spread of the virus and to prevent our fellowmen to get sick),” Dizon, also the presidential adviser for flagship programs and projects, said.
The National Task Force Covid-19 led by chief implementer and Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., and the Department of Public Works and Highways led by Secretary Mark Villar have been leading the efforts to convert facilities into quarantine centers to reduce the community spread of Covid-19, and to decongest hospitals and save more lives.
We Heal As One Centers in the National Capital Region include the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, and the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forum Halls and the World Trade Center in Pasay. Also being converted are the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, the PhilSports Arena or ULTRA in Pasig, and the Filinvest Tent in Alabang.
In Pampanga and Tarlac, two major facilities were converted by the government into We Heal As One Centers for patients positive for the coronavirus. These are the Asean Convention Center in Clark, and the New Clark City Government Center in Capas, Tarlac, which can accommodate a combined total of more than 800 patients.
The 525-room New Clark City Athletes’ Village can also accommodate suspected and probable cases.
Dr. Jay Rivera, Pampanga provincial medical consultant, said the converted facilities in Clark are “very, very adequate” in accordance with the “locate, isolate and cure” strategy.
“Meron tayong sistema na pag sila’y na-locate at tinest, ini-isolate na sila. Dito sa pasilidad, very, very adequate. Pagtapos, tsaka natin sila ilalabas kung sila ay negative. Kung sila ay positive, susunod tayo sa pag-isolate at kung mag-progress, meron tayong ‘cure,’ merong mga ospital na naka-standby for the ‘cure’ (When they will be located and tested, we isolate them. In this facility, this is very adequate. And after that, when they tested negative, we release them but if they are positive, they will be back in isolation and then there are stand-by hospital to cure, for their health progress.),” he said.
All the We Heal As One Centers have air-conditioned cubicles with plug-in outlets, free food for patients and the medical staff, free internet connection, and round-the-clock medical assistance. (PR)