Cebu province beefs up facilities, equipment for COVID patients
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Amid threats of the more transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19, the Cebu Provincial Government is beefing up facilities and medical equipment needed for COVID-19 patients.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said they will be converting an unused province-owned property in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City into a Temporary Treatment Monitoring Facility (TTMF) for asymptomatic patients.
Garcia said the building was built to serve as a temporary dormitory-like facility for barangay captains in the province who will be visiting the capital Cebu City for official businesses.
“We are setting up a step-down TTMF here mismo. Duna tay nahuman nga building originally intended for barangay captains nga kung moari sa syudad naay ka istaran. That’s owned by the Province of Cebu naa ra dinhi sa OPPRA. Wa pa gyud magamit. We will convert that as a step-down TTMF,” said Garcia.
According to the governor, the property can accommodate 48 beds and more can be added. She also said any individual who got infected with COVID-19 can be admitted there, regardless of their residence.
The Capitol also ordered all local governments in the province to ensure their respective isolation facilities have the capacity to take in asymptomatic patients.
“I assigned them (isolation facilities) to hire one doctor and two nursing aides or midwives. We would like to prioritize the nurses sa hospitals. Ang kapitolyo maoy mo bayad sa salaries ani nga mga medical personnel,” explained Garcia.
The Capitol also vowed to provide additional supply of oxygen tanks and more high-flow equipment in all province-owned hospitals.
Garcia said they will be allocating five additional oxygen tanks to each district hospital, and 20 for provincial hospitals while they are in the process of purchasing 20 more high-flow machines to aid COVID patients who are need in of hospital care.
“(These are) measures that we undertake in addressing the rising of cases. Because it’s everywhere actually. This delta variant is highly transmissible,” said Garcia.
The entire island of Cebu, including the three cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu, has been experiencing a third surge of COVID infections since the past weeks.
Local health experts pointed out to the detection of the Delta variant, or B.1.167.2, of SARS-CoV-2 as the reason.
In Cebu province, they were able to confirm a total of four COVID-19 cases infected with such mutation – two in Samboan, and two in Cordova.
Recent data from the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) noted a 119 percent two-week growth rate of new COVID-19 cases in Cebu province.
/bmjo
READ MORE: DOH: 32 Delta variant cases detected in Region 7
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