Galvez pushes for 4 dedicated COVID-19 hospitals in NCR

July 21, 2020

National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr.  proposed to have four hospitals dedicated to coronavirus disease patients in Metro Manila.

Galvez made the recommendation during a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night. The taped meeting was aired on Tuesday morning.

"We will be recommending to have zoning in NCR (National Capital Region), we should have four COVID hospitals, the dedicated hospitals that China did - in 10 days, they built a COVID-dedicated hospital," Galvez said.

He noted what Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega has been doing, which is to have one referral system in the entire NCR and in Cebu.

Galvez  also underscored the need to expand the intensive care units of the hospitals in the country.

He suggested that the number of ICU beds in Metro Manila be raised to over 1,000 to handle severe and critical COVID-19 cases.

Currently, hospitals are required to allot 30 percent of its capacity for COVID-19 patients. Celerina Monte/DMS