By Marie Tonette Marticio
TACLOBAN City – The city government of Borongan has prepared two quarantine facilities in preparation for the possible surge in the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and patients under investigation (PUIs).
(Alren Beronio / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, 62 rooms were already prepared at Borongan People's Center (JTR), and 40 at the Motorpool area.
Agda said the facilities are equipped with oxygen tanks in every room, personal protective equipment (PPE) for the healthcare workers, proper ventilation, and other medical equipment needed for patient care.
"This aims to isolate those PUIs so that they would no longer need to go home and infect their families because it's difficult for them to observe strict home-quarantine," he noted.
The official added that they have prepared a facility for those COVID-19 patients in the event that Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital would not have enough beds for them.
As of March 25, Borongan City has three PUIs under home isolation with no COVID-19 case.
Department of Health 8 Regional Director Minerva Molon earlier said that the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC), the only referral hospital catering to six provinces and seven cities only has a 27-bed capacity intended for isolation of PUIs and COVID-19 patients.
The region now has a total of one admitted confirmed case and 262 PUIs, 22 of which are admitted while 240 are under home-quarantine.