Gov’t eyes ships, hotels, other establishments as quarantine facilities

March 31, 2020

The government is eyeing maritime vessels, hotels, and other state-owned establishments to be used as quarantine or isolation areas for individuals with or allegedly infected with the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a televised press briefing on Tuesday morning, Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said government agencies, such as the Departments of Health, Transportation, Tourism, and Public Works and Higways, and the local government units have been directed to “expedite their respective efforts” in identifying establishments or furbishing of facilities that will be used for quarantine or isolation for persons under monitoring or investigation and COVID-19 patients.

“The DOTr shall lead the identification of maritime vessels that can serve as floating quarantine centers, in coordination with the DOH,” he said.

The official said the DOT shall finalize identifying hotels and other similar establishments as quarantine facilities in every region of the country.

“The Bureau of Quarantine is directed to assess the adequacy of such facilities identified by the DOT,” Nograles said.

The IATF has also directed the DPWH, in cooperation with private entities, to complete all the work to convert government-owned Philippine International Convention Center, World Trade Center, the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, and such other facilities as may be necessary, into fully-functional quarantine facilities.

Nograles said the LGUs shall finalize the identification and furbishing of provincial, city, municipal, and barangay quarantine facilities in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The DOH Centers for Health Development and the DILG regional offices, LGUs, including uniformed services, shall form composite teams who will serve as personnel in quarantine facilities operated by the national government and LGUs, he said.

The concerned agencies have been directed to report to National Task Force COVID-19 Task Group on Resource Management and Logistics all identified facilities to be converted into isolation areas.

Nograles said the LGUs are also directed to sustain the provision of basic necessities and local transport for their residents; identify appropriate human resources who may aid the national government in conducting intensive contact tracing, assessment, and monitoring of PUMs and PUIs, as well as in the issuance of Certificate of Completion of 14-Day Quarantine through their Local Health Units; and disinfect areas in their respective localities as frequently as necessary.

The IATF also included employees of the Philippine Postal Corporation as among those exempted in enforcing the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon to “maintain the prompt delivery of services to its clients.” But social distancing should be followed.

As of March 30, there were 1,546 COVID-19 cases in the Philippines with 78 deaths and 42 recoveries. Celerina Monte/DMS