THE local government of San Simon inaugurated on Thursday, October 8, its new isolation facility located at the local government center in Barangay Sto. Niño.
The facility was formerly the town's evacuation center but was temporarily transformed to house coronavirus disease (Covid-19) suspect patients.
Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. said the LGU and Department of the Interior and Local Government allocated P9 million for the construction and repurposing of the infrastructure, as well as for the purchasing of equipment.
He also said the facility has 20 isolated beds -- 10 for men and 10 for women -- two bathrooms and a disinfection area.
"All Covid-19 suspect cases, including the close-contacts of those who tested positive will be isolated in the facility until their swab test results are released," said Punsalan.
If positive, the patient will be transferred to a treatment facility while negative patients will be released, the mayor added.
Former Fourth District representative Anna York Bondoc, who also attended the blessing and inauguration, lauded the efforts of the local government in ensuring the safety of suspect patients while also protecting the community.
"Isolation centers are very vital during this pandemic as it protect suspect patients who will later turn out be negative from being infected, while also protecting the rest of neighborhood in case they test positive," she said.