By Minka Klaudia Tiangco  The Manila City government launched the Manila Center for Infectious Disease Control (MCIDC) to augment national health facilities amid the threat of 2019-novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The MCIDC is located on the 10th floor of the Sta. Ana Hospital on New Panaderos St. in Sta. Ana, Manila. Additional isolation tents and mobile temporary holding facilities could also be found in the hospital. It will be another holding area for patients suspected of carrying the COVID-19 virus, aside from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa and San Lazaro Hospital in Manila. Six hospital physicians, who are experts on infectious diseases, were pooled to man the MCIDC. The city government opened the new health facility after the Department of Health (DOH) raised the Philippines' COVID-19 alert system to Code Red, Sub-level 1, following the confirmation of the first local transmission case. READ MORE: PH reports 1st local COVID-19 case "As you can see, the city of Manila has prepared ahead of time," said Manila City Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso after inspecting the MCIDC on Saturday evening. "Should they need it, the city of Manila has additional rooms and isolation areas. We cannot quantify the local transmission cases yet, but we're just preparing our city," he added. Each ward has a single bed, an air conditioning unit, a set of drawers, and a bathroom. Separate changing rooms and decontamination rooms were also opened. The changing rooms contain personal protective equipment, including goggles and face masks, for health staff. During a directional and consultative meeting with city government officials on Saturday night, Domagoso said additional medical equipment will be procured should the COVID-19 situation in the country worsen. READ MORE: Prepare for community-wide COVID-19 transmission, WHO tells PH