2nd quarantine facility opens in Cebu
Published May 27, 2020 12:00 am
By Minerva BC Newman
CEBU CITY – Another Bayanihan Cebu IEC Field Center quarantine facility located at the Cebu IEC Convention Center on Pope Jahn Paul II Avenue, Cebu City opened its doors Monday, May 25, to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with mild to moderate symptoms.
(via Minerva BC Newman / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Bayanihan Cebu IEC Field Center has a 130-bed capacity that consists of five enclosed fully air-conditioned Negative Air Pressure shelter bays, equipped with medical-grade high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filters that clean the air coming out of each bay to ensure utmost safety for the patients, frontliners and staff, as well as the neighboring communities.
DOH-7 Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas noted that the health sector has already increased its capacity to test for COVID-19 with the establishment of three molecular laboratories in Cebu.
“The new challenge now is isolating and ensuring that the capacity of the health system in the region would not be overwhelmed,” Bernadas said.
Cebu Archbishop Msgr. Jose Palma led the ceremonial blessing with clergy members of the Archdiocese of Cebu and key government local officials to mark the opening of the facility and later turned over to the Department of Health (DOH-7) here that has been designated to run and oversee the operations of the quarantine facility.
The first facility, the Bayanihan Cebu Field Center-SHS, was established by the DOH-7 in partnership with Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas. It can accommodate 50 COVID-19 patients and is being managed as an infirmary.
The two Bayanihan Cebu Field Centers have enclosed, fully air-conditioned shelter bays that have Negative Air Pressure facilities equipped with medical grade high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA).
Negative air pressure is a technique used by hospitals that prevent cross-contamination by allowing the air to flow through the HEPA filters before escaping the enclosed fully air-conditioned facility. This ensures the safety of the front liners, staff, and the neighboring communities.
According to Bernadas that another facility, the Cebu City Quarantine Center, is also being set up by the Cebu City government at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City. The 150 to 200-bed facility will also have negative pressure rooms and filters. It can serve to isolate and treat confirmed cases with moderate symptoms.
It could also be used as a step-down facility from Level 2 or 3 health facilities for those severe cases that have recovered but are still not laboratory negative.
“This way hospitals can clear beds for other patients with severe symptoms. As we embark on the new normal, we all need more facilities for possible increase in cases,” Bernadas explained.
The Bayanihan Cebu movement is a multi-sectoral partnership between the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV), Regional Development Council (RDC-7), Department of Health (DOH-7), Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu, Society of Jesus of the Philippines, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu, Cebu Caritas, Inc., LH Foundation, Inc., and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI).
The Bayanihan Cebu PH, on the other hand, is an initiative of a private sector-led information and coordination effort that aims to help bridge donations and support coming from different individuals, groups or organizations intended for the operations of both the Bayanihan Cebu Field Centers in Cebu- the IEC and the old Sacred Heart School along General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City.
According to Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino, the construction of the Bayanihan Cebu Field Centers materialized through sponsorships from private sector donors and benefactors.
“To maintain the transparency of all donations, Bayanihan Cebu has engaged the services of SGV & Co., the country’s largest accounting firm to verify each transaction,” Dino said.
(via Minerva BC Newman / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Bayanihan Cebu IEC Field Center has a 130-bed capacity that consists of five enclosed fully air-conditioned Negative Air Pressure shelter bays, equipped with medical-grade high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filters that clean the air coming out of each bay to ensure utmost safety for the patients, frontliners and staff, as well as the neighboring communities.
DOH-7 Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas noted that the health sector has already increased its capacity to test for COVID-19 with the establishment of three molecular laboratories in Cebu.
“The new challenge now is isolating and ensuring that the capacity of the health system in the region would not be overwhelmed,” Bernadas said.
Cebu Archbishop Msgr. Jose Palma led the ceremonial blessing with clergy members of the Archdiocese of Cebu and key government local officials to mark the opening of the facility and later turned over to the Department of Health (DOH-7) here that has been designated to run and oversee the operations of the quarantine facility.
The first facility, the Bayanihan Cebu Field Center-SHS, was established by the DOH-7 in partnership with Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas. It can accommodate 50 COVID-19 patients and is being managed as an infirmary.
The two Bayanihan Cebu Field Centers have enclosed, fully air-conditioned shelter bays that have Negative Air Pressure facilities equipped with medical grade high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA).
Negative air pressure is a technique used by hospitals that prevent cross-contamination by allowing the air to flow through the HEPA filters before escaping the enclosed fully air-conditioned facility. This ensures the safety of the front liners, staff, and the neighboring communities.
According to Bernadas that another facility, the Cebu City Quarantine Center, is also being set up by the Cebu City government at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City. The 150 to 200-bed facility will also have negative pressure rooms and filters. It can serve to isolate and treat confirmed cases with moderate symptoms.
It could also be used as a step-down facility from Level 2 or 3 health facilities for those severe cases that have recovered but are still not laboratory negative.
“This way hospitals can clear beds for other patients with severe symptoms. As we embark on the new normal, we all need more facilities for possible increase in cases,” Bernadas explained.
The Bayanihan Cebu movement is a multi-sectoral partnership between the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV), Regional Development Council (RDC-7), Department of Health (DOH-7), Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu, Society of Jesus of the Philippines, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu, Cebu Caritas, Inc., LH Foundation, Inc., and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI).
The Bayanihan Cebu PH, on the other hand, is an initiative of a private sector-led information and coordination effort that aims to help bridge donations and support coming from different individuals, groups or organizations intended for the operations of both the Bayanihan Cebu Field Centers in Cebu- the IEC and the old Sacred Heart School along General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City.
According to Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino, the construction of the Bayanihan Cebu Field Centers materialized through sponsorships from private sector donors and benefactors.
“To maintain the transparency of all donations, Bayanihan Cebu has engaged the services of SGV & Co., the country’s largest accounting firm to verify each transaction,” Dino said.