Hoops Dome readied as holding area for COVID cases in Lapu-Lapu

Lawyer Aellee Tejano, executive secretary to the mayor of Lapu-Lapu City, says with the isolation facility of the city, Lapu-Lapu City College,  already full, the Hoops Dome will be converted into a holding area for new COVID-19 positive patients while awaiting a vacant spot at the isolation facility. | Futch Anthony Inso

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — The Lapu-Lapu City government is preparing the Hoops Dome in Barangay Gun-ob to be converted into a temporary holding area for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patients.

According to Lawyer Aellee Tejano, executive secretary to the mayor, that the city government is doing this after the Lapu-Lapu City College (LCC), which serves as the city’s isolation facility, has reached its full capacity two days ago, with around 126 COVID-19 patients there.

Look: Hoops Dome prepared as holding area for COVID cases

Tejano said that the Hoops Dome could accommodate around 150 patients.

“Butangan namo ug linoleum ang kanang top of the plywood, and then of course they will be given foam and pillows. Sila mismo modala sa ilang blankets and jackets kay mogamit man ta sa aircon. I-segregate nato ang babaye ug lalake, separate sab ang ilang CR ug shower areas,” Tejano said.

(We will put linoleum on top of the plywood, and then of course, they will be given foam and pillows. The patients will be the ones to bring their blankets and jackets because we will have air conditioning in the area. The men and women will be segregated, they will have separate Crs and shower areas.) 

She, however, clarified that the Hoops Dome would only serve as a holding center for COVID-19 positive patients, and those who would be admitted in the facility would be transferred to the Lapu-Lapu City College (LCC) once there would be a vacant bed for asymptomatic patients.

Earlier, the City Health Department announced that they would be opening another building in the LCC, to accommodate more COVID-19 positive patients.

Read: Lapu-Lapu to convert another building of LLC to isolation facility

Dr. Agnes Realiza, head of the City Health Department in Lapu-Lapu City, said that the new isolation facility that they would be opening at the LCC could accommodate around 60 patients.

Realiza also said that in the meantime, those who had tested positive in the past two days were advised to undergo home-quarantine to prevent the spread of the virus.

She said that as of the moment, around 72 COVID-19 positives were subjected to home-quarantine.

“Naa pa tay i-transport the other day. Naa tay 40, unya gahapon 32. Mao nay angay ibutang diri. Duna pa gyuy mo-come-in unyang hapon, maong gi-prepare ni siya,” Realiza said.

(We have transported 40 patients the other day. Then yesterday we have 32. These are the people that should be placed here. Then there are those who could come in this afternoon. That is the reason we prepared this area.)

Currently, the city has around 300 active cases of the virus.

/dbs